Coimbatore : Since last year's seasonal rainfall was not as expected, chances of forest fires breaking out has increased. Keeping this in mind, the Forest Department has advised its employees to avoid taking unnecessary leave since drawing of fire prevention lines has become necessary.
Coimbatore : Since last year's northeast seasonal rainfall was not as expected, chances of forest fires breaking out has increased in the region, warn officials from forest department. Keeping this in mind, the Forest Department has advised their field staff to avoid taking unnecessary leave since drawing of fire prevention lines has to be commenced on priority.
Last year, the Northeast seasonal rainfall was recorded at an average of 33 cm which was 24 percent less than the usual rainfall. The forest areas in Mettupalayam and Sirumugai had received 50 percent less rainfall than usual, owing to which the plants in the forest regions had dried, eventually increasing the possibilities of the outbreak of forest fires.
Following the Kurangani fire accident in Theni last year which claimed the lives of 23 people, the Forest Department is being cautious in preventing such incidents this summer. The forest officials are taking preventive measures to curb the outbreak of such forest fires by consistently monitoring the forest areas via satellite.
"A separate fire prevention room will be allocated in the District Forest Office that will function round the clock," said the officials. Drawing of fire prevention lines too has commenced at the Sirumugai forest range at a rapid pace, as well as on the Mettupalayam-Kotagiri Road which has dense forests on both sides.
The Forest Department is also involved in removal of dry overgrown bushes on both sides of the road and drawing of fire prevention lines for about 30 km on the Mettupalayam-Kotagiri road. More than 30 employees have spread out as four teams for this purpose.
