Asks Forest Department to be prepared for the worst in coming months

Former Forest Minister C.H. Vijayashankar has blamed timber, sand and mining mafias besides blaming illegal cattle transporters for forest fires that devastated Bandipur National Park and other forests of the State.  

He asked the Forest Department to be prepared for the worst in the coming days if rains fail.

Addressing media persons at Patrakarthara Bhavan in city this morning, Vijayashankar said, “if action is not taken at the earliest, more forests would be destroyed in the days to come.”

He said that the State Government should soon convey a meeting and discuss about saving our forests besides taking action to control mafias, which are destroying our forests.

Stating that lantana was the major problem in forests, he said that there is a need to remove the weed completely. While severe drought was putting the farmers into many hardships, fire was destroying thousands of hectares of forests, which is a matter of concern, he added.

He also said that there is a lack of co-ordination between the Forest Department and Fire and Emergency Services Department and added that the Fire Department thinks that they are limited only to city.

Vijayashankar said that the forest staff lacks experience and preparedness to tackle fire and added that movement of mafias in forest borders between the States should be monitored effectively.

Vijayashankar said that Task Forces headed by the concerned DC should by constituted and should hold meetings every month on the problems and solutions to it.

Stating that about 2,900 hectares of forests in the State were destroyed in fire in 2012, 2,500 hectares in 2014 and this year more than the previous numbers, Vijayashankar said that the Forest Department personnel should be provided proper training to tackle forest fires by using the latest technologies available to protect wildlife. Former Minister M. Shivanna, City BJP Unit President Dr. M. Manjunath and others were present.