Wildfire: Leaves of field forest officials cancelled in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of raging fires in Similipal biosphere and other forest ranges across Odisha, the State Government today cancelled the leaves of field forest officials to monitor the wildfire situation.

“No leave shall be granted to any field official,” a notification by the State Forest and Environment Department stated today.

In exceptional circumstances where it is considered unavoidable to allow any official to remain on leave, prior approval of next authority (not below the rank of DFO) should be obtained and PCCF be kept informed.

“Any deviation from this instruction shall be viewed seriously,” the Department warned.

The notification stated that the field officials have already under direction to take all measures to prevent and deal with the forest fires on 24 x 7 basis and the situation is being monitored and reviewed at the State level on daily basis.

Worth mentioning that the raging fires are said to have affected the wild creating concern among environmentalists.

Recently, Odisha Government has constituted a task force to deal with the forest fires in the State.