INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TIRUPATI: The scorching summer season heat has yet again brought to the fore the forest fire threat in Seshachalam biosphere
This disturbs the whole area's biodiversity, ecology and environment
Nearly half a dozen occurrences of forest fires were reported in the last 2 weeks in Seshachalam forests that spread out throughout
Chittoor, Kadapa and Nellore districts.However, prompt intervention by forest and fire services personnel are lowering the flames routinely
and protecting the forest-belt from wildfires
Forest fires are a routine phenomenon in these forests and pose a terrific risk to forest wealth, plants and fauna
According to Forest Survey of India (FSI), based upon the forest stock records, 54.40% of forests in the nation are exposed to occasional
fires, 7.49% to moderately frequent fires and 2.405 % to high incidence levels, while 35.71 % have actually not yet been exposed to fires of
any genuine significance.Among the top five states with the greatest number of FFP/alerts between November 1 of in 2015 and this Friday,
Andhra Pradesh inhabited the 5th position
Throughout this period, forests in Anantapur circle, Tirupati wildlife circle, FDPT Srisailam circle, Rajahmundry circle, Kurnool circle,
Visakhapatnam circle and Guntur circle, received 13,673 FFP/alerts (SNPP-11,651 and MODIS-2,022), according to FSI data
Experts state the prolonged dry spell has led to drying up of huge tracts of Seshachalam forest cover, which in turn caused fire
This is intensified by an increase in human activity
Forest fire is also a most typical danger in the Tirupati and Tirumala forest belt, comprising nearly 3250 hectares, that comes under the
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)
In view of the soaring temperatures, the TTD forest wing has actually stepped up procedures to prevent fire in the forest area under its
They have actually taken precautionary procedures like strengthening watch towers, release of extra personnel, fire lines and fire-fighting
teams continued ground to prevent and manage incidences of wildfire and to fulfill any contingency Speaking with Deccan Chronicle, TTD
divisional forest officer (DFO) Chandra Sekhar stated Apart from establishing 4 40 feet high watchtowers in Tirupati and 5 towers in the
Tirumala forest belt spread over 2950 hectares, forest fire-fighting teams geared up with innovative fire-fighting equipment and watch tower
personnel have actually been published on a day-and-night basis to spot smoke
Whenever the watchtower personnel sees any smoke or fire, they will notify the teams, who will reach the spot and usage blowers and the
other equipment to remove dry leaves and douse off the fire, the DFO included
According to him, TTD is also continuously receiving information from FSI, which uses satellite-based remote sensing innovation and GIS
tools for avoiding and managing fires through the development of early caution in fire prone locations, keeping track of fires on actual
time basis and estimate of burn scars
The TTD has also collected over 50 km of fire lines of 10x20 metres size in the middle of the thick shrubs and forest trees in order to
consist of the spread of the fire.
