These ‘eye in the sky’ help Forest Department keep a watch during peak fire season
On Feb. 25 this year, dry vegetation on nearly four acres of land was gutted near the foot of Chamundi Hill. Fire and Emergency Services personnel managed to douse the fire before it spread to the forest area.
A major mishap was averted owing to timely intervention of fire personnel. The fire was spreading fast and the fact that there was a petrol bunk and houses near the place had raised concerns.
On an average, Fire and Emergency Services Department receives over 15 fire alert calls and the calls peak during summer.
To tackle incidents like the one occurred on Feb. 25 and to prevent a Bandipur-like situation, the Forest Department has constructed watch towers or ‘Fire-Lookout Towers’ and have employed fire watchers at the Chamundi Hill to avert reoccurring of major fire accidents.
Fire-Lookout Towers perched atop mountains with their lofty views and good old-fashioned human observation play a crucial role in front-line efforts to stop wildfires. Three Fire-Lookout Towers have been constructed and fire watchers have been appointed to take precautionary measure and they have been provided with walkie-talkies to effectively communicate with the headquarters so that emergency measures are initiated before the inferno spreads.
As a first step in preventing fire, the Department has made 3-metre wide fire-line totalling 100 kms across the length and breadth of Chamundi Hill, also covering non-forest and areas that have been covered by shrubs.
The Chamundi Hill has a 1,800 acre forest area with 70 watchers including 25 regular watchers and 2 guards to watch the forest round-the-clock. The Department has set up three Fire-Lookout Towers — one at Koodanare along the road leading from the Hill to Nanjangud, another one near Tripurasundari Jwalamukhi Temple road along the stretch leading from the Hill towards Uthanahalli and one more at Kunthikal Gudda along the road leading from the Hill to Race Course.
Personnel will be deployed at the Fire-Lookout Towers 24/7 to keep a watch on fires and in case there is a fire, they will be in a position to alert the Forest Department headquarters and also the Fire Service Department.
As a precautionary measure, the Department has closed the narrow road leading from Chamundi Hill to Mysuru, popularly known as Hukkeri Road and regarded as a short-cut road from the Hill to the city and also the road leading from Nandi statue atop the Hill to Uthanahalli. However, locals and elderly people are being allowed to use the road.
Gearing up for hot days, Forest Department has placed a
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Deputy Conservator of Forests Dr. Prashanth Kumar said that all measures have been taken to prevent forest fires atop and in the surroundings of Chamundi Hill. Pointing out that forest watcher teams have been upgraded with deployment of more personnel, he said that necessary fire-fighting equipment have been kept ready to face any emergencies and to take instant action to douse out any fire at the point of origin itself.
He said that the department has employed more than 70 fire watchers for the next three months of summer. Quick response vehicles have already been kept in place for Chamundi Hill and it would be in continuous contact with the Fire Brigade. He requested the public not to indulge in any fun activities in the forest area and sought full co-operation of public in saving forest wealth from fire.
Recent Comments