Check dams to tackle Kerala drought

Forest Minister K Raju has asked officers to urgently construct check dams and conserve the natural water bodies like ponds and streams inside forests to provide drinking water for wild animals and pr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister K Raju has asked officers to urgently construct check dams and conserve the natural water bodies like ponds and streams inside forests to provide drinking water for wild animals and prevent them from straying into human settlements.

 Launching the Forest Department’s website and the distribution of the atlas and pocket maps of the forest divisions here on Wednesday, he said the drought situation will become more severe in the coming days in view of which steps should be taken to reduce its impact. The meeting of the high-level officers who attended the review meeting observed there had been delay on the part of  Forest officers, EDC members and forest watchers in extinguishing the forest fires which claimed around 3,000 hectares of forest. But compared to 2011-12, when around 5,000 hectares were lost, this year’s fires were not that devastating, the meeting evaluated.  The new website of the Forest Department has included  more useful information.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com