BHUBANESWAR: With the unprecedented heat wave triggering a huge forest fire across the State, the Forest Department is chalking out a standard operating procedure (SOP) to control the incidence.
Forest Minister Bikram Arukh informed during the Earth Day celebration that incentives are also in the offing for locals. The SOP is being prepared by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) SS Srivastava.
As per plans, responsibility will be assigned to forest officials at each level - starting from DFO down till the forest guard. Each official will have specific role to tackle forest fire.
“DFOs get SMSes basing on the coordinates sent by MODIS satellite which captures forest fire. Now the responsibility will be more defined,” sources said. Vana Surakhya Samitis (VSS) and fire-fighter squads will play a crucial role.
Forest fire has been reported from 17 to 18 districts of the State. At least 400 spots - both inside and outside the forests - have been identified where fire instances are reported.