Jan 2: A year after 12,000 acres of forests in Bandipur went up in smoke, the Karnataka Forest Department is gearing up for the summer even as the Forest Survey of India (FSI) has cautioned that 22.78 lakh acres (9,222 sq km) or about 20% of the green cover spread across three districts in the central part of the state is fire-prone.
The FSI studied forest fire incidents across the country between 2004-05 and 2017 before coming up with state-specific inputs.
According to the 13-year observation, Karnataka has 7,352 “fire points” or areas measuring 5 km X 5 km with frequent fire incidents.
Though the number is lower compared to states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha with over 20,000 points, the sheer spread of the fire-prone area itself is a challenge for the Karnataka Forest Department.
According to data, about three lakh acres (1,199.9 sq km) of forest area is very highly fire prone with 26 to 52 fire incidents in 13 years. This is followed by 7.6 lakh acres (3,067 sq km) of “highly fire prone” areas with an average of one to two incidents every year.
Almost all of the “red alert” areas are concentrated in Uttara Kannada, Chikkmagaluru, Shivamogga and Chamarajanagar districts. As temperature rises at the end of January, so does the risk of forest fires, requiring officials to be on vigil till the end of summer.
After an investigation into the Bandipur blaze revealed that faulty fire lines and poor supervision were the reason for the spread of the fire, the department has come up with a multi-pronged approach to prevent similar incidents this year.
“After the Bandipur incident, we have created a fire cell and a standard operating procedure (SOP) which everyone has to follow. Firstly, a fire management plan is prepared and approved by a competent authority.
The SOP has well defined firelines which have to be executed by December-end and burning must be completed by January 15,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Punati Sridhar told DH.
He said that to ensure its strict implementation, GPS readings of firelines are to be submitted for random verification.
“All the required equipment from fire jackets to shoes, gloves, backpack sprayers and tractors mounted with 2,000-5,000 litre tanks with high pressure pumps will be deployed at vantage points,” he said.
In addition, the department’s fire cell works in collaboration with the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (KSRSAC) to give fire alerts within half and hour of an area catching fire and detected by satellites.
“Earlier, the gap used to be four hours by when the fire would have spread beyond control. Now, with reduced time gap, it would be easier to control fire early,” he added.
Comments
what you know about HAJJ, first you try to learn your religion man you maron...you know in veda says there is no image of GOD, dont follow donkey, follow hindu scripture, first of all dont know what is hindu religion and goes to show finger on MUSLIM, look at you face in mirron and ask yourself do you following GODs religion or Devil religion...who is your god bootha or pure GOD.
dont act like maron of hindu community, think before comment, any thing happens to hindu then they blame muslim, what a joke,,there is saying that 80% dogs are worried about 14% lion in forest..haha
yo naresh, first try to learn veda the hindu scripture. which says there is no image of god..if you follow poojari then go to hell, who told muslims are not allowed, did you went any time to masjid to see how it is operated. you maron always behind bar and worship stone, how will your brain develop..first try to become good hindu then you can point muslim.
In most of the masjids having seperate place for woman also... better at least provide seperate way for hindu woman in temples to avoid mingling .... above judgement is on internal issue of hindu custom issue , why dragging muslims to it ?
According to North states' people and BJP people, there is a chance of flood again in Kerala, becuase SC challenged GOD. Those north state fools said that Kerala Flood was aftermath of Sabarimala verdict. Even RBI official backs the statement
Actually 99 percent of women in Kerala following the rule. They are waiting for their turn. Its like hajj. You people wont understand that. Some fools filed petition in order to destroy Hindu religious customs and traditions and muslim lawyer advocated for that. Now everything perished
Silly issue got more hype.
All bloody activists wants to destroy Hindu religion thats it. They won't raise voice against inequalities in Islam. They won't question their customs.
So called activitsts not protesting against inequalities among muslims. Why muslim girls cant enter in to mosque for offering namaz. Why they have seperate one.
Gender equality won
Add new comment