Forest Fire: PIL Filed In High Court Against Odisha Govt’s Inaction

Cuttack: Even as forest fire in various parts of Odisha, particularly Similipal National Park, has raised concern with chief minister taking up the matter, a PIL was filed in the Orissa High Court on Tuesday against the state government.

The Bharatiya Bikash Parishad, a social organisation, filed the PIL alleging the inaction of Forest department, Odisha Government and Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) in extinguishing the fire in the forest areas of Similipal in Mayurbhanj district and other places of the state.

The PIL has appealed to the court to issue show-cause notices to principal secretary, Forest department and chairman-cum-managing director of OFDC who are respondents in the case.

It may be noted that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday ordered engagement of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams in controlling the forest fires.

Earlier, the government had formed a nine-member task force led by former PCCF Sandip Tripathy to review the ongoing forest fire, its causes and recommend immediate containment measures.

Also Read: ODRAF To Join Odisha’s Fight Against Forest Fires