The Forest Department has said that the fire at Bandipur damaged 133 acres or about 54 hectares of land. Honorary Wildlife Warden of Chamarajanagar Naveen Kumar told The Hindu that the figure was arrived at by Conservator of Forests Mallesha after conducting a ground survey. The fire is now suspected to have been an “act of vendetta” by villagers, who were peeved at not being appointed as forest watchers.
Forest land was destroyed in two separate incidents close to Kempepurahaadi in Moleyuru range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve and sources in the department said investigations are on.
A team of officials from Mysuru and Bengaluru are expected to visit the site on Monday, the source added.
It is now transpiring that a group of people from a local hamlet had approached local officials seeking recruitment as fire watchers. However, there is provision to rope in only two to three members from each hamlet. “Temporary appointment is made as per the government norms of giving due representation to each hamlet but the group insisted they be deployed as watchers,” an official said.Conflicting reports
Meanwhile, conflicting reports are emerging from the adjoining Nagarahole National Park. A fire reported from the park on Saturday was said to be minor in nature. Park director H.C. Kantharaj said that about 30 acres of vegetation was affected but it was in a teak plantation. However, another source said the damage was extensive at Balle in D.B. Kuppe range and fire tenders were pressed into service. The extent of damage will be known after the GPS survey is conducted.
