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.
The NIA had named Zakir Naik, IRF, and others in an FIR registered under anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on Friday.
Comments
It only shows that PROPHET MUHAMMED pbuh, the final messenger to the whole of MANKIND Spoke the TRUTH...
He said : In the end time LIES will be accepted as truth and TRUTH will be accepted as LIES. People are IGNORANT of the CREATOR that's why the EVILs find easy to trap the people With LIES and DECEPTION. ... Most of the people who doesnt use their intellect are falling to the LIES of the arrogant leaders.. and believing it as TRUTH... infact if we research what ZN says is all TRUTH and FACT from not only from Muslim scripture but also other religious scriptures.
But its a temporary enjoyment... for the falsehood... if not repented to God ... They will surely see that ALLAH's plan was the best. Muslims should be patience on their arrogance and fight lawfully.
But they plan, and Allah too plans. And Allah is the best of planners.
Who is the creator of this Univers and
the creator of you & me.
When people are busy in exchanging their old currencies, the Govt. is banning Dr.Zakir Naik's NGO and slowly taking over his Schools.
BJP needs place to hide their black money. So they are byforce taking over zakir's house to hide their money.
BJP needs place to hide their black money. So they are by force taking over zakir's house to hide their money.
shame on NIA who is acting on centre for their shameless ideology ...to curb a peace lover and a peace preacher ..... does it mean that every Muslim become TERRORIST instead of Peace lover like Dr.Zakir Naik ?
i think its time to become that soon . as INDIA will see bloodiest Civil War as RSS wishes to hold onto its 2025 Brahmin Rashtra agenda to come true (which is dream only) . but if ARMY is sasffronised only
Movement like Popular front, SPDI , komu souharda vedike .DYFI,SFI,CFI, Dalit Panthers, Naxal . pragathipara vedike will always there to defend the Nation from such foolish rulers ....
Jai Hind
Asaram Bapu and Zakir Naik both are same
Do you know how????
Their followers are telling that they are innocent and blaming government ...Ha ha ha
Dr. Zakir Naik is a student of Comparative religions. He preaches oneness of God, peace and harmony quoting verses from Quran, Bible and Vedas. Anti Islamic elements cannot equate him logically, and they cannot tolerate his popularity.
Targeting innocent Muslims or peaceful Muslim organizations is not at all a good step. Fascists with their biased policies will only harm the peace in the nation.
India being a plural society, Ruling parties or any other parties why dont you support the UNITY IN DIVERSITY towards the benefit of our beloved nation.
Good move by government...
I think this may be the one of reason for Demonetization of 500 and 1000 rupees, Saffron Government attacking A muslim daayi and his organization under the darkness of 500 and 1000 currency, Actually Muslim does not benefit much from Dr. Zakir as he is not a fiqh scholar, our non muslim brothers missed the opportunity to understand the truth through him, But nothing to worry, If Allah wish to guide one, No one can misguide him,
you can ban legend and great leader like DR.ZAKIR NAIK but you cannot stop or prevent spreading ISLAM all over the world. if you hold one DR.ZAKIR NAIK thousands of other DR. ZAKIR NAIK will come up with more powerful SPEECHES and awareness.
so stop doing unwanted activities and actions..
Dr Zakir should have come to India, since he is away from India authority has more chances of squeezing his organisations. if he is guilty court will punish him. it should not be the situation where he gave stick and ate beatings. Only Allah knows the truth and Allah will guide the best..
I DONT think he can do unwanted activities,
any way
Truth will prevail and evil will perish soon
Political Power is the Master key to open the doors of Justice. hope the Indian Muslim Community Stand together under one political Platform . then only can defeat the Fascist ideology. in india muslim's issue is not just the religious one, its full of Politics which Muslims never realized. let the community stand on their own. now the question is where are those champions of Secularism ..???
This is the lab test of communal anti India rss group. Now by false case they will start to ban other Islamic organization. They are planners are full training under Jews group.
Whole IndIan citizens aware of their intention devide and rule for the sake of so called upper case.
But God will by the supper of peace loving Indins it will not happen.
Now the young cm padnavi of rss more active with anti India policy.Hope hard woring Mumbaikar will stand with peacefull life.
Jai Hind!h3
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