Bhubaneswar, April 19: Forest fires continue to rage in Odisha after the forest department identified 11,367 forest fire points across various divisions by April 17.
Odisha's principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Debadutta Biswal said about 99 per cent of the total forest fire incidents are manmade.
People set fire to forests while collecting mahua flowers, kendu leaves and for shifting cultivation he said adding that the number of forest fire points is lower compared to last year's 31,210 points as on April 17.
The forest department has deployed 370 squads and 330 fire-fighting vehicles to combat fires. Besides, a dedicated portal has been set up and mobile numbers of around 10,000 forest personnel have been registered in it to monitor and collect information on forest fires directly through satellite, he added.
Awareness campaigns are being conducted and actions are being taken against the offenders with registration of case against them, he added.
