As mercury rises, measures taken to tackle wildfires in Chamarajanagar district

Mysuru: In view of rising temperature this summer, the forest department has stepped up its measures to tackle wildfires in green-rich Chamarajanagar district, which is covered with 50% forest area.Officials have given special attention to the tiger reserves of BRT and Bandipur besides Cauvery and MM Hills wildlife sanctuaries, along with forest fringes of national and state highways.Additional staff, forest watchers and locals have been deployed to monitor safety measures during this summer.Bandipur Tiger Reserve spreads over 1,100 square kilometres, BRT Tiger Reserve 625 square kilometres and MM Hills Sanctuary 906 square kilometres.As Chamarajanagar region has both deciduous and scrub types of forests, including the Bandipur and Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Tiger Reserve, the department dug trenches, created hundreds of kilometres of fireline in fire-prone areas, as well as recruited fire watchers on an outsourcing basis for the summer season, as well as spread awareness among tribals and villagers.Incidents of wildfire destroying vast tracts of land and bamboo vegetation were reported from Gundimala in Bailur Forest Range in MM Hills Sanctuary, 9 acres were burnt in forest fire at Karadimuttina Sirehalla in BRT Tiger Reserve, and several other places during mid-Feb and March this year. However, the impact was minimal, said officials.The installation of artificial intelligence-powered surveillance system cameras and rapid response system by the forest department in the Bandipur and BRT tiger reserves also helps the forest department to receive immediate forest fire detection.Bandipur Tiger Reserve Project director S Prabhakaran said that no fire incidents were reported in his limits this year till the first week of April. The department has made enough preparations to tackle forest fires. "However, heavy to moderate pre-monsoon rain accompanied with hailstones during mid-March and the first week of April brought some respite to the department officials as it helps improve moisture level, growth of vegetation to ease fodder availability, to fill water in ponds and lakes, easing drinking water for wildlife in Bandipur Tiger Reserve limits," he said.
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