PANAJI
The State forest department has undertaken tree plantation exercise using drones and cutting-edge technologies in the 3.68 sq kms of forest area including in three wildlife sanctuaries -- that were burnt during the wildlife in March. The department is also working on a comprehensive management plan to tackle forest fires in the near future.
In the month of March, State recorded 74 fire incidents covering wildlife sanctuaries, private land, reserve forests, comunidade land, and others. About 4.18 sq km of forest area including 2.27 sq km in three wildlife sanctuaries were affected.
Speaking to The Goan, the Chief Conservator of Forest Saurabh Kumar said that the department has already taken up plantation across 3.68 sq kms of forest area and the entire process will be completed in the current monsoon season.
“We had conducted a detailed assessment of the possible plant species in those areas and accordingly have taken up plantation of those local species,” he said.
Kumar said that the department is simultaneously working on a comprehensive management plan for better preparation of the department and other agencies to tackle such incidents in future. “The plan would be implemented before the next summer season,” he said.
The department has proposed to engage fire watchers, by generating 21,000 man-days of jobs, to prevent fire incidents. The department has proposed Forest Fire prevention and control operation proposal at an estimated cost of Rs five crore.
The proposal has been approved by the National Compensatory Afforestation and Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) of the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF). The proposal speaks about maintenance and creation of firelines, and construction of watch towers in Netravali and Cotigao wildlife sanctuary.
The proposal also involves supplying wood saving appliances to fringe villages of the two wildlife sanctuaries.
