With the chances for wildfires increasing in the Atappady region in the absence of summer showers, the severe shortage of protective staff is turning a major handicap for the Forest Department.
According to data available with the Mannarkkad Forest Division, under which Attappady falls, 42 hectares of forests in the Attappady and Agali ranges have already perished in wildfires. Thirteen instances of wildfires devastating the forests have been reported from the two ranges since the last week of February.
Though 140 hectares of forestland was destroyed in wildfires in the region the previous summer, the department has not taken steps to fill the vacancies of the Forest Protective Staff. Large-scale wildfires are expected in the region in April and May with the severity of summer increasing.
The Mannarkkad Forest Division is spread over 420 sq km, but has only 60 forest watchers. Posts of 42 beat forest officers have been remaining vacant for long but no step has been taken to fill them.
Fire-line building
Forest watchers and beat forest officers coordinate preventive measures such as building fire lines. They also lead firefighting in case of wildfires.
In Mannarkkad, staff shortage has started affecting preparedness of the division against the wildfire threat.
A drought-like situation prevails in eastern Attappady and almost all water sources in the forest have dried up.
Man-animal conflicts are reported from the region almost every day.
Crop raids by animals, including wild elephants, are inviting the wrath of local farmers.
People to be involved
Meanwhile, the department is now seeking large-scale involvement of the public in addressing wildfire threats.
Divisional Forest Officer V.P. Jayaprakash said that steps had been taken to revive all forest protective collectives in the region involving both officials and the public.
Temporary staff have been recruited on daily wage basis to fight wildfires and priority has been provided to the tribespeople in recruitment.
Major risk areas had already been identified and they were under close vigil, he said.
