Due to dryness in summer, fire grows at an intense rate: DFO

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Turahalli Forest has been under attack by miscreants who have been lighting fires in the forests for a few months now. Added to the miscreants who indulge in anti-social activities, including drug abuse, are shepherds who come to graze their cattle.

Careless or deliberate throwing of cigarette butts, and bidis are responsible for forest fires. A forest fire was seen from 6 pm to 9 pm on Wednesday at the outskirts of Turahalli restricted forest lands which come under the Thalaghattapura police station jurisdiction.

“As per our investigation the fire is ignited by shepherds who bring their cattle to these forest lands. They are doing this in order to get fresh grass for feeding their cattle without understanding the implications of the danger of forest fires. Not to mention the miscreants. Due to the dry weather and considering summer months the fire grows at an intense rate,” Deputy Range Forest Officer cum Surveyor, Raju A L said.

As per the records provided by the Forest Department, over 2, 0000 such forest fires have taken place in Karnataka in the current year most of which took place between 15th February and 5th March. It was also noted that the whole of the Western Ghats range has been under the loop of forest fires.