With the outbreak of forest fires in several locations across the State since January, the government is formulating a response plan to wildfires posing a threat to human habitation.
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is maintaining a close watch on forest fires threatening to spin out control. The SDMA is sourcing high resolution satellite images from NASA to detect forest fires that pose a risk to communities and infrastructure.
Member Secretary, SDMA, Sekhar L. Kuriakose said efforts were on to fix the thresholds defining the different levels of threat and formulate standard operating procedures to fight forest fires. He, however, added that the response plan would not duplicate the efforts of the Forest Department. “It would primarily be a last mile response.”
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