Two weeks after the forest fire in Odisha’s Similipal tiger reserve began, the state government on Tuesday claimed that the fire was almost under control and more staff have been deployed to extinguish it.
“The forest fire in Similipal is now almost contained. The core area with precious wildlife has not been impacted much, with fire mostly confined to the peripheral areas of the Similipal Tiger Reserve. Two teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force have been sent to the reserve," said Sandeep Tripathy, former PCCF of Odisha and head of the task force entrusted to suggest ways for containing the rising forest fires in the state.
As per the Forest Survey of India's fire portal, Odisha had 20,920 fire spots in the last 7 days, the highest in the country.
Tripathy said four fire brigade teams have gone deep into the forests at Barehipani, Gudugudia, Talabandha, Kendumundi, Chahala, Nawna ranges in Similipal. On Tuesday, forest officials in Mayurbhanj district arrested two poachers who were trying to hunt wild animals by setting fire in Gudidiha forest under Dudhiali range.
Chief secretary Suresh Mohapatra who reviewed the forest fire situation in the state with all the district collectors, superintendents of police and Divisional Forest Officers on Monday, said due to continuous and quick action of field staff, the number of fire points has shown considerable decrease as fire alerts came down to 3,258 on Monday from 6,258 on Sunday.
{{/usCountry}}Chief secretary Suresh Mohapatra who reviewed the forest fire situation in the state with all the district collectors, superintendents of police and Divisional Forest Officers on Monday, said due to continuous and quick action of field staff, the number of fire points has shown considerable decrease as fire alerts came down to 3,258 on Monday from 6,258 on Sunday.
{{/usCountry}}"More than 95% of fire points located have been attended during the last 24 hours of reporting. No damage to wildlife or humans has been reported,” he said.
Mohapatra said to tackle the situation the state government has decided to engage 100 more special fire fighting squads in addition to the 600 squads to fight the fire. The government has alo decided to engage Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) in 3000 villages located on fringe areas of several forests to sensitise villagers on the need to check fires.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Bikash Parishad, a social outfit on Tuesday filed a PIL in the Orissa High Court seeking appropriate measures to contain and douse the wildfire in Similipal tiger reserve and other forests across the state.