Similipal Forest Fire: Odisha Govt’s Task Force To Meet Locals Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: A special task force formed by the Odisha government to monitor forest fires in the state will visit the Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district on Tuesday.

The Secretary of Odisha Environment Society, Jayakrushna Panigrahi, told this to the media on Monday.

The team will meet forest officials as well as villagers living on the periphery of the national park, added Panigrahi, who is also one of the task force members.

He stated that of around 26,500 villages and hamlets inside and along the park, 5,000 are fire-prone. “If the people of these villages are given incentives, they will be the ideal medium for the protection of the forest,” he said, adding that the task force will submit a proposal to the state government in this regard.

Referring to forest fires in Odisha, Panigrahi said the task force is preparing a database of the areas where forest fires break out every year.

He said the task force will soon submit its preliminary report to the state government on the measures to be taken to prevent forest fires.

Also Read: Odisha Govt Forms Task Force To Monitor Forest Fires