Bhubaneswar: There is no loss of life or public property or injury to everyone who because of forest fires in similipal earlier this year, which has attracted broad media attention.
According to the State Minister for the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey at Rajya Sabha on Monday, there is no fire in any meadow in the backup core area (which can have an impact on wildlife).
All forest fires are limited to land in the forest Sal Pancur.
Overall 334.35 hectares of land were influenced by forest fires until March 15 this year, according to a report of a committee who visited the Similipal Tiger Reserve from March 11 to 14, a written reply by Choubey for questions by Rajya Sabha Mahatme Vikas Mahatme (Maharashtra) said.
Choubey said because the forest was managed by the State Forest Department, the responsibility of prevention of forest fires and management especially had each state government.
However, the center supports countries in preventing and controlling forest fires by providing financial assistance based on forest fire prevention schemes and centrally sponsored management.
This center has released Rs 125 Crore to America in the last three years (2018-19 to 2020-21) under this scheme.
Another written reply at Forest Fire in Odisha by Bhupendra Yadav, who is also a MOS for the environment, changes in forests and climate, at Rajya Sabha on July 19, said the center has released more than RS 4 Crore each in the last three years below Forest fire prevention scheme to Odisha.
Replying to the question by Mamata Mohanta Hospital members, Yadav has answered that losses because forest fires in the country have not been assessed.
Odisha reported 51,968 forest fires from November 2020 to June 2021, which was the highest among the countries and UTS during the same period.
Madhya Pradesh reported 47,795 the second highest fire incidence.
Yadav said forest fires occurred every year during the summer for various natural and anthropogenic reasons, including accumulation of flammable materials such as dry leaves, twigs and pine needles.
Most of the country’s forest fires are land fire where land vegetation is burning.