Action plan on forest fires: CS

Forest fire management is part of vision for sustainable forest management and for this Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena chaired a high level meeting to discuss matters pertaining to forest fires and their prevention and control.

As we know that Odisha shows a increased graph in forest fire incidents and what has become an issue of global concern, so Jena directed officials to take stern action against unscrupulous elements found involved in forest fire incidents. He also asked the Forest departmental to provide adequate number of blowers and other necessary equipment to the field level workers and those involved in containing forest fire.

In the meeting it was also discussed about strengthening fire preventive system and increase administrative and community cooperation to deal with the situation with proper guidance and eye.

As per the sources it is known that, since last January, as many as 14,760 forest fires were reported in the state, out of which 14,393 forest fires were controlled by field officers and workers immediately.

The objective of this meeting is to minimize forest fires by awareness folk performances such as Pala, Daskathia, Ghodanacha, and street plays.

Besides, Voluntary organisations and NGOs will also be involved to create awareness among people to save forests.