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Odisha forest fire

Image credit: Prakash Javadekar Twitter Handle

Experts Committee to provide technical advice to abate forest fire in Odisha: Prakash Javadekar

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | Mar 11, 2021, at 01:17 am

#PrakashJavadekar #OdishaForestFire #ExpertTeam

Bhubaneswar/UNI: A committee of experts will visit Odisha to give technical advice and help out to the state forest department in effective management of forest fire incidents in the region, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said.

Javadekar said the expert team will work in coordination with the deployed team for early and effective dousing of fire.

The Union Minister said he would be reviewing the situation with his team on a daily basis.

Javedkar informed this through the tweet after the BJP MPs from Odisha led by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted a memorandum, urging him to initiate steps to douse the forest fire in the state.

Today Sh. @dpradhanbjp & other MP's from Odisha met me regarding Forest Fire in #SimlipalNationalPark & nearby.@moefcc is sending a committee of experts to Odisha to give technical advise &help out state forest dept. in effective management of forest fire incidents in the region pic.twitter.com/I0zEh5YCaL
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 10, 2021

The experts will work in coordination with the deployed team for an early and effective dousing of fire.

Will be reviewing the situation with my team at @moefcc on a daily basis.#SimlipalForestFire
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 10, 2021

Meanwhile, the Odisha government on Wednesday cancelled the leaves of all field level officials of the forest department and requested the Special Relief Commissioner to deploy four more Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force(ODRAF) teams to douse forest fire.

Forest and Environment Secretary Mona Sharma, in a letter to PCCF Wildlife, directed not to grant leave to field level officials.

However, in the event of any emergency prior permission of the higher officer should be taken to grant leave.

Sharma also requested the SRC to deploy four more ODRAF teams in Rayagada, Nuapada,Deigarha and Bhanjanagar forest divisions to abate the fire.

Already two ODRAF are deployed in the Similipal forest area to contain the fire.

Sharma also requested the DGP to provide the services of the Fire service department to control the fire in the forest.

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