The Odisha Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia has assured that the state government is actively implementing measures to control forest fires across various regions.
Speaking on the matter, the Minister emphasized the significance of awareness campaigns being conducted in villages close to forested areas. In 17 tribal-dominated districts, local communities traditionally use fire for various purposes. However, there have been no major fire incidents in the state at present, with only 310 small fire points detected.
To tackle the situation, the government has deployed adequate fire squads, especially in dense forests, and intensified surveillance with the use of drone cameras to monitor fire-prone areas. The Similipal forest, which often faces fire threats, has remained unaffected this year.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to forest conservation, Minister Khuntia noted that Odisha has a vast forest cover of 52,000 square kilometers. In village forests, locals often ignite controlled fires for collecting mahua flowers, but steps are being taken to prevent these fires from spreading uncontrollably.
As part of a new initiative, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has directed that villagers be actively involved in fire mitigation efforts. Each village will receive an incentive of ₹10,000 through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to participate in fire prevention activities.
