K’taka Forest department uses drone to nab those responsible for forest fire

INDIA – Chmarajanagara, (UNI) In order to control and keep a tab on the activities within the forest area and after the bitter experiences with frequent forest fires, like the one in Bandipur Tiger Reserve last year Karnataka Forest Department officials have decided to use drones to prevent the occurrences of such wild fires, and to use drones to nab trouble makers and take timely action to put out or prevent forest fires especially during the summer season.

The department of forest have been working on using drones and setting up a centre in Mysuru or Chamarajanagar to monitor three crucial tiger reserves — Bandipur, Nagarhole and BRT.

Forest officials told UNI that as many as 133 villages come under Bandipur National Park area in Ggundlupet, Nanjangud, and H D Kote. People in these places usually go to the forest to collect fire woods for domestic use. Sometimes people casually toss a burning cigarette or bidi which can escalate into full blown forest fires.

In order to keep an eye on the movement of people in the forest areas drones will be used to identify the people and keep a vigil over the area as part of the regular watch duty by the forest officials, officials added.

As many as three drones will be used to keep an eagle eye on the peoples movements and each time this drone will fly for 15 minutes and record the images. This could help the officials watch during the day time beat.

“Drones will be used on a pilot basis this year and if successful, these could be deployed permanently for use in all forest patches,” officials added.