Satellite image aid to douse Similipal fire
The core area of the biosphere includes a tiger reserve in Mayurbhanj district and its periphery areas touch two other districts — Balasore and Keonjhar
The Odisha government has sought the help of National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad, for providing it satellite images of the fire raging in the forests of Similipal, the second largest biosphere of Asia and other major forests of the state.
The core area of Similipal biosphere includes a tiger reserve in Mayurbhanj district and its periphery areas touch two other districts — Balasore and Keonjhar.
Newly appointed head of the task force for controlling forest fires, Dr Sandeep Tripathi, former Principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force, told The Telegraph on Tuesday, “We are getting NRSC help and they are sharing images of the fire inside the forest area. Through satellite images, we will be able to know the extent of the damage and the new fires starting at new places. Accordingly, we will chalk out plans to control the fire. Two days ago, they shared the images of 400 hectares of forest burning inside Similipal.”