Over 22,000 hectares of forests lost to fires in Odisha since 2022: State govt data

8,462 hectares of forest area were lost in 2022, followed by 9,764 hectares in 2023, and 4,067 hectares so far in 2024

Published on: Mar 10, 2026, 17:22:19 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Forest fires have destroyed 22,293 hectares of forests in Odisha over the past three years, forest, environment and climate change minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia on Tuesday told the state assembly.

The state has recorded more than 7,200 forest fire incidents between January 1 and March 10. (Image sourced from Mint)

8,462 hectares of forest area were lost in 2022, followed by 9,764 hectares in 2023, and 4,067 hectares so far in 2024, he said.

According to data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), the state has recorded more than 7,200 forest fire incidents between January 1 and March 10, the highest in the country.

Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh reported 6,181 incidents, followed by Telangana (5,750), Maharashtra (5,151) and Karnataka (4,768) during the same period.

Forest fires have already begun spreading from Koraput to Sambalpur and Nayagarh to Mayurbhanj affecting forest patches and their surrounding areas. As of now, officials say 355 major fire points remain active across different parts of the state even as peak fire activity in Odisha is likely to last till end of May.

Singhkhuntia told the assembly that fire lines have been created inside forests and along their boundaries, while awareness campaigns are being conducted at forest compartment and range levels. Information boards, banners and advertisements have also been placed at strategic locations to alert local communities.

Also Read:Human errors led to forest fires in Nagaland’s Dzukou valley: CM Rio

The department has also organised mock drills to train forest staff and villagers in fire prevention and control.

To strengthen ground response, 334 trained fire protection squads have been deployed across wildlife and territorial divisions.

In addition, villagers participating through Village Forest Protection Committees (VSS) are being provided financial assistance based on their involvement in preventing and combating forest fires. For real-time monitoring, the government has installed artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning-enabled cameras at forest check posts, while 24×7 control rooms have been set up at the state headquarters and forest division offices.

The department has also established a dedicated Forest Control Room with a helpline number to enable quick reporting and response to fire incidents.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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