The scorching summer has brought with it forest fires that ravage the vegetation and deny enough fodder to animals.
The forest fires in interiors of Telangana (supplied)
Rampant forest fires have become a matter of grave concern for the Forest Department in Telangana, reportedly bogged down by a shortage of manpower and necessary equipment.
Tuesday, 2 April, alone reported 349 forest fires from 128 locations, and the department attended to 108 blazes.
The scorching summer has been adding fuel to the fire, along with the casual attitude of people visiting the forests. Videos of forest fires ravaging fertile lands have become normal on social media.
According to the Forest Survey of India statistics, the Telangana Forest Management Information System reported 11,722 fire points in 2023, less than the 14,809 reported the previous year.
Of the reported 11,722 fire points, 11,492 were inside reserve forests.
A fire point is a possible location where a blaze could break out. It is also the number of forest fires reported during a particular period.
Bhadradri (2,887) recorded the highest number of fire points in 2023 followed by the Kawal Tiger Reserve (2,779), Kaleshwaram (2,665), Amarabad Tiger Reserve (1,420), Basara (1,365), and Rajanna Sircilla (467).
Charminar (116), Jogulamba (14) and Yadadri (9) reported the least number of points.
Between 1 January and 31 March 2024, as many as 8,524 fire points, including 8,124 in reserve forests, were reported.
In 2023, the Amrabad Tiger Reserve topped with with 1,062 fire points, followed by Khanapur (928), WL Gudur (865), Venkatapuram (776), and Yellandu (616).
Khanapur with 1,121 cases topped in 2022. Yellandu (987), Amrabad Tiger Reserve (986), Venkatapuram (930),and WL Gudur (825) followed.
Hyderabad, Suryapet, and Karimnagar did not report any cases in 2023. Nalgonda (1), Hanumakonda (1), Jangoan (2), Nagarjunasagar (3), and Yadadri (6) reported cases of forest fires in single digits.
In 2022, Hyderabad, Jangoan, and Gadwal had zero cases. Hanumakonda (1), Karimnagar (1) Nalgonda (2), Suryapet (6), and Nagarjunasagar (8) reported the least number of fires.
According to Rakesh Mohan Dobriyal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), most forest fires were reported during the summer.
“The Forest Survey of India alerts state forest departments using satellite images. About 99 per cent of fires are manmade. The local tribespeople burn trees to collect mahua flowers, and so do beedi (tendu) leaf collectors. Tourists also contribute to the fires by carelessly discarding lit cigarettes,” he said.
The officer added that the department has been creating awareness — an ongoing process — among the people.
“There are almost zero natural fires in Telangana,” he added.
Forests and Wildlife Protection Society founder Mirza Kareem, however, had a different take. “There is a lack of proper surveillance. Tribespeople are not checked for matchboxes, cigarettes or kerosene, They commute through the forests regularly, he said.
The forest fires spread for kilometres, impacting the ecosystem, and destroying flora and fauna. However, the forest department has been handicapped by a shortage of contract-based animal watchers, base camp watchers, and check-post officers, Kareem further said.
He added that the forest department was creating fire lines only along the roads in the forests. Most cases are reported from forest interiors, and animals do not get enough fodder.
Kareem demanded the government to add more manpower and equipment to fight forest fires.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
May 20, 2024
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