MYSURU: The untimely rains in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts for the last one week have come as a big relief to the Forest Department which has been on its toes after back-to-back forest fires in the region.
Bandipur, Nagarhole, MM Hills and BRT Wildlife Sanctuary have received copious rains since last Sunday. Now, dry grass and leaves have been washed away and termites have covered the surface, an indication of the rising moisture level in the ground.
Kollegal Deputy Conservator of Forests Javeed Mumtaz said all areas of concern in their jurisdiction like MM Hills, Cowdalli, PG Palya and Hooyagam have received substantial rainfall. “These are thick forests and were vulnerable to fire due to dry conditions. Now, there won’t be fires at least in the next few weeks. We are expecting another spell of rain just after Ugadi and that will completely keep away the fires,” he said.
Another official said that the rains, besides taking care of fires, had replenished watering holes in these forests. This will bring down incidents of animals straying out of the forest in search of water, he said.
More than 500 acres of forest had been destroyed in the recent forest fires and the department had pulled out all the stops to prevent more such incidents.
Dasashetty, an 80-year-old resident of Doddasampige, said untimely rains have hit the region during this season after a gap of three-and-a-half decades. Stating that most fires are set by those seeking to settle scores with the department because they are prevented from grazing cattle inside the forest, he hoped the green cover would stop disgruntled elements from torching forests.