Forest fires in Kudremukh, Forest Dept. orders probe

Multiple instances of forest fires have been reported in parts of the Kerekatte range of Kudremukh Wildlife Division, causing loss of land cover in the last couple of days.

Locals noticed forest fires at different locations spread over Kerekatte, Manikya Betta, and the surrounding areas, engulfing vast areas of shola vegetation.

Sivaram Babu, DCF of the Kudremukh Wildlife Division, informed the media that forest fires were reported at two locations in the Kerekatte range. “We got the fire alerts on Thursday afternoon. Our staff doused the fire by evening. Only the grassland spread over 18 acres has been affected; no damage to the shola forests,” the officer said.

Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre, taking a serious note of the forest fire, held a meeting with senior officials of the department at his official residence in Bengaluru. He instructed the officers to take all measures necessary to stop the spread of the forest fire and to avoid such instances in future.

He also asked V. Karikalan, Conservator of Forests of Managaluru Circle, to probe into the development and submit a report within seven days. The officer had been instructed to submit a report on forest-dwellers willing to move out of the forests. Besides that, he directed the officers to find out if the failure of the officials in the department led to the forest fire and to take suitable action against them.