Karnataka: Threat of summer fires looms large over tiger reserves

MYSURU: Summer is here and summer fires are looming large over tiger reserves - Bandipur, Nagarahole, and BRT, which are spread across Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and Kodagu districts and are home to 350 tigers.
This season, foresters have encountered another challenge in keeping frontline workers such as foresters and watchers motivated. The death of a forest guard while fighting a forest fire near Sakleshpur in Hassan has disheartened them. This is the second death of frontline workers in Karnataka in the last six years. Earlier, a guard died in Bandipur in 2017.
Amid human-animal conflicts - tigers killing humans and livestock, and elephants venturing out of forests raiding crops in human habitation, foresters will have a broader responsibility for protecting the protected area from fires.
In dry weather conditions with low humidity, the potential for fires is higher, and on many occasions, wildfires are also caused by deliberate acts of sabotage.
Karnataka Beat Foresters and Forest Watchers' Association members claimed that they had been demanding fire kits for frontline workers and their demands were being ignored. Crores of rupees are being spent on vehicles, and equipment but frontline workers are not provided with safety gear, they complained. After the first death six years ago, they raised the issue during a meeting, but it still hasn't been addressed.
Principal Chief Conservation of Forests (wildlife) Rajiv Ranjan told TOI that this summer season, all due precautions have been taken to prevent fires in all tiger reserves including Bandipur, Nagarahole, and BRT. Fire and Emergency Personnel have been roped in as a precaution, he said.
5,200 km fire line created
Bandipur and Nagarahole Forest authorities have created an over 5200 km long fire line which is aimed at stopping the fire from spreading.
P Ramesh Kumar, director of Bandipur, said a control room is set up, and 435 tribal and local people were appointed to assist foresters in fighting the fire.
Fire and emergency personnel and forest department staff are trained through workshops on fighting fire during the summer. A total of 2781 km of fire lines have been established in Bandipur, which cover an area of 1,450 square kilometres.
About 40 blowers which are used to completely extinguish fires have been purchased along with sprayers, explained the director.
The director of Nagarahole forest, Harshakumar Chikkanaragund, said that 400 people were roped in. There is a fire line of over 2500 kilometres in the reserve with an area spanning about 1,200 square kilometres.
On a daily basis, he monitors the situation around the clock. Fire personnel have been deployed and emergency helicopter arrangements are made to fight any raging fire. Summer is literally a testing time for foresters because of dry weather conditions, the director stated.
It can be recalled that decade ago, Nagarahole witnessed the most devastating and biggest forest fire when 600 hectares of forest area were completely destroyed.
February 18, a black day
February 18, is literally a black day for Karnataka Forest Department and Karnataka state beat foresters and watchers association as two of the frontline workers died fighting a fire on the day.
Murugappa Thammannagol, a forest guard of Moliyur Range, Bandipur Tiger Reserve died on this day in 2017 while Sundaresh, a guard working in Hassan forest department died on the same day this year, 2023.
Bandipur Director Ramesh Kumar said Murugappa was remembered during Martyrs' Day in September 2022 and his wife, who is now an employee of the forest department, was honoured. Bandipur extended financial assistance to the family during the commemoration.
"Karnataka forest department has about 5500 forest guards (now beat foresters) and 1,500 forest watchers across the state. After the latest death of a beat forester in Sakleshpur, we have asked all front-line workers to exercise caution while fighting the fire. We have requested authorities to provide safety apparatus like fire jackets, boots, and helmets for watchers and guards" - Vittal Joni, Beat Forest Officer, Dharwad & President, Karnataka Beat Foresters and Forest Watchers' Association