Bissam Cuttack: With forest fires starting to rage all across the state even before proper summer sets in, officials are concerned. They are now thinking about ways and means to contain the wildfires. Fires have also started to rage at the Bissam Cuttack forest range under Muniguda division and are posing serious threats to flora and fauna. Forest department officials announced Sunday a slew of measures to contain the fires.
Drone cameras will be used to spot forest fires. Stringent action will be taken against people responsible for starting forest fires in Rayagada district, officials informed. They can be sentenced to three to seven years in prison, officials added.
The drones can play a crucial role in detecting, containing, and extinguishing forest fires, officials pointed out. The drones will be used to gather situational awareness, which then can be used to direct the firefighters in locating and controlling hot spots. Just like urban fires, wildfires also require monitoring so that firefighters know what they are dealing with.
Giving this information here, divisional forest officer (DFO) Prasanna Kumar Mishra of Muniguda division in Rayagada district said that forest fires have become a matter of ‘huge concern’.
Mishra said that many dense areas under Bissam Cuttack forest range are burning and officials are working round the clock to douse those. They are also trying to find out the persons guilty of setting forests on fire. Local villagers are voluntarily helping the officials to douse the fires and they will be given wages, Mishra added.
Mishra said that persons responsible for setting forests on fire will be charged with non-bailable offences. Other than the prison term mentioned above, they will also be penalised with a fine of Rs 10,000. Moreover, the identity of the informants will not be revealed and they will be rewarded if they provide correct news.
Mishra also urged people from all walks of life including politicians, public representatives, police and Army personnel to join hands and save forests from being razed. He said that mushrooming of brick kilns, clearing the jungle for mohua collection, shedding of tender kendu leaves and stubble burning on harvested farmlands are some of the reasons for the spread of wildfires in Muniguda forest division areas. He called upon people to stay away from setting the jungles on fire.
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