Nabarangpur Mar 13 : A severe forest fire is seen in Chandahandi, Jharigaon, Raighar and Papadahandi blocks of Nabarangpur district for last two weeks. The Forest Department has taken measures to control further spread.
Officials of the department had convened a review meeting on Wednesday to decide on the measures that include identifying forests which are under the grip of fire and equipping personnel with resources to control the inferno. To keep a tab, a forest camp was also held at Dabugaon on Thursday attended by over local 180 Vana Samrakshana Samiti (VSS) members.As per reports, around 4,000-5,000 acres of land have been destroyed under the impact. New saplings planted by the Forest department have also been destroyed.
The areas under the grip of fire are Chacharaghati, Malgaon, Chandahandi ghat and Kuhudi forests in Chandahandi block, Chandandhara forest in Jharigaon block, Timanpur and Hatigaon forest in Raighar block, Nuakot in Dabugaon and Barli forest under Maidalpur forest section in Papdahandi block.
It is being alleged that villagers residing in the fringe areas are responsible for the blaze. Apparently, they are setting fire inside forests for maize cultivation which is triggering the fire in many places.