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.
Anant Kumar Dattatreya Hegde, a member of parliament, who represents coastal Karnataka's Uttara Kannada constituency, in a press meet at his native Srisi on Sunday stated that terrorism could not be wiped out as long as Islam remained in this world.
Udupi, Jan 4: A 37-year-old Udupi district JD(S) spokesperson allegedly committed suicide at his residence here last night, police said on Saturday.
Comments
Death to the Global Jihad.
Death to Sharia.
Death to Islamism.
Jai Hind!
sir in my vision you are the great indian leader
sir in my vision you are the great leader in the indian history
sir in my vision you are the great leader in the indian histor
To Bopanna,
Hi Guy, Just study the fact in India itself Islam is growing faster than any religion. Most of the them who embraced Islam are Hindus. But they are educated, I don't know your knowledge
You need to refresh your mind. Please Don't waste the reader's time.
.
What's wrong in what he said ? He spoke the truth that Islam is a violent religion
Send him to mental hospital.
He should be wiped out and NOT ISLAM......Where are you Naren....we are missing you.... Lost in the Bangkok streets.....If you are still there, please take this MAD MAN to Bangkok....
This is a failed attempt to divert the public concentration from the issues like Rohit Vemula and JNU in Karnataka... Chaddi's will never learn from history.....
Nobody in India gave such statement against any religion.
Poor guy forgot Dr. Chittaranjan's fate in the same Bhatkal.
Now he is in risk, why unnecessarily inviting unbearable venture.
He is in Bhatkal. better apologize or prepare for the worst.
Don't worry until today those tried to wipeout islam are themself wiped out,it is a promise of almighty to the people till the last hour comes let witness those alive.
What a Joke!!!
If you want to come to Lime Light you utter such non-sense, actually he is pleading not appealing to the Media to publish his speech, otherwise who will know him, never heard his name before, now he is Star (Villain Star),
Way to go Anant Kumar!!
Like that barking only uneducated Pagal Kuttha so leave it.
More the people trying to defame Islam the more Islam is spreading. 9/11 was done to defame Islam since then more people studies Islam and accepted Islam. allahu akbar
Poor guy.. Joined politics couldnt do anything for the community. Nobody even knows him.. He did nothing. Now he wants to come on news headlines, want to be famous as getting old. Want to be hero among people who provoke.. Want to be another donald trump of india. My dear nobody cares for you. Nobody wants to know you.. Hehe what a waste having you in india.
Mr.AKD...just asks with your own Hindu Brothers & sisters those who live in Arabian Sand , how they enjoy their peace life with their family & children in Muslim countries ! Then you will come to know the real fact of terrorism.
COMMUNAL RAGAV, GO TO NEPAL FOR FREEDOM SPEECH ,///// WE NEED PEACE HERE,, [JAI HIND]
one more idiot appears in chaddi parivaar.
This stupid is dangerous to peace loving Hindu society
You better try yourself rather than asking others to do it. Most of the people in BJP are gone mad. O Hegde Islam is near to your door step. Come out if you dare to know the beauty of Islam.
Metal Manja This MP,
More you try to wipe out more it spreads
This RSS dog is trying to spread virus poison at Uttara Kannada surroundings. Hope peace loving Kannadiga's will kick him from power shortly.
All are well aware these are the special training from his dirty nagpur base.
But rss will never succeed fro any angle.
He is in the state of \vitiated by perversity nature\""
Where is the commnet from Ibraheem Hussain Udupi.
We muslims fuck you anthya kumra hedge...
See his pig face donkey...why media is publishing this type of dog news...
Islam is the religion which brings peace and tranquility to entire human kind, now it is your turn to accept Islam and do some good things, otherwise you will have to taste hell fire hereafter. Also you have to believe in last and final messenger of Allah \Mohammed Sallalahu Alaiwassallam\".....
I pray. May Allah give you hidaya (goodness) and accept Islam as soon as possible...."
Dear Mr. Anantha its not like make in india or Mad in india or something like that , this is Isalam one and only Fast Growing Religion throughout the world no one can Stop, you are a just Dust for our Religion.
Islam is a religion of ALLAH.No one can harm Islam.Bec Allah knows how to protect his religion.Dont take it seriously leave him (Poor Guy).Allah is the great planer than the so called ordinary people.For them this world is All.But for us Life begins AFTER DEATH.So you people enjoy here we Muslim will enjoy Later.(In sha allah)
He wants to capture the attention of Mr,Modi by giving such statements where Modi likes such statements and will they will get the Minister post in his Cabinet.Like Anupam Kher got Nation Award for speaking against Amir Khan.
WHAT HE KNOW ABOUT ISLAM , USELESS GUY HE IS ..
I THK THIS TIME HE NEED TICKET UN ELECTION SO HE BARKING LIKE DOG
IF SOMEINE TALK AGAINST THE ISLAM OFFCOURCE BJP WIL GIVE TICKET ,
Y MEDIA HE HIGHLIGHTED THIS USELESS GUY NEWS..
Intolerence.....
He thought he became hero, barking like dog.
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