: While the Odisha Government has funded nearly Rs 20 crore for preventing forest fire in the State, Forest officials are actively engaged in creating awareness among people on a war footing basis.

Special Relief Commissioner Office sources said that especially Similipal Biosphere has been allocated Rs 8 crore and they are taking up various activities in this regard.

Similarly, Rs 10 crore has been given to contain forest fire to PCCF Odisha. More funds will be made available to save flora and fauna in Odisha forests, which is rich in green cover, said sources.

“The Simlipal Biosphere Reserve is fully prepared to tackle forest fires with grants from SRC Odisha. Fire lines to prevent spread of forest fire, modern equipment and state-of- the- art vehicles have helped to contain the forest fire and spread awareness among the villagers,” said PCCF Wildlife Susanta Nanda on X.
 
ACS Forest Environment and Climate Change, Satyabrata Sahu rushed to Similipal to have on the spot review on forest fire. He was happy to see that Chief Wildlife Warden Nanda and his team of officers are fully engaged in tackling forest fire in Similipal.
Director Similipal ITR Prakash Jogineni and DFO Samrat Gowda have joined hands to carry out the initiatives.

Various jingles, video and interesting materials are prepared on preventing forest fire, which is shown to the people across the Similipal Biosphere Region.

The Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change has formed a total of 367 squads to take immediate measures to douse the flames in case of forest fire.

The DoEFCC has distributed 2,365 safety kits and over 4,000 fire gloves to the officials.
Besides, 330 vehicles have been solely engaged to tackle forest fire and other necessary measures, sources said.