KALPETTA: Lack of firefighting equipment, hostile relationship with local people and the irresponsible political leadership have made the forest fires recurring phenomena in the Wayanad forests this summer.
Despite spending crores of rupees in the name of conservation, the forest department is pathetically lacking modern firefighting equipment.
A forest staff who preferred anonymity said an iron rod tied with pieces of rubber sheet is the major firefighting tool against the conflagration that rages up to 60 feet with scorching heat.
This year citing lack of funds the firelines, a mandatory precautionary mechanism to reduce fires, were not made in crucial stretches and the number of fire watchers also is very less.
Adding to the woes the failure of forest department in addressing the issues of man-animal conflict also has its toll at the peak of summer. "Not only they refused to cooperate with us in firefighting but also many of them instigated fire mongers," he told DC.
Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithy president N. Badusha said the forest staff is fighting the fire with crude methods like the aborigines fought centuries ago.
"Though there were many proposals, apart from a few nothing materialised so far," he told DC.
"It is high time the department made available fire fighting instruments like air-blowers, and fire extinguishers."
