SunstarTV Bureau: On Monday, The State Forest department released necessary funds for obtainment of safety gears for forest fire fighting squads in consideration to Odisha blazzzing under ceaseless incidents of forest fires and possibility of more such outbreaks likely in the baking hot summer months ahead.
State Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) in a letter to all Divisional Forest Officers (Territorial & Wildlife) informing that funds for fire protection have been released under Fire Protection in CAMPA APO 2020-2021 to procure safety gears out of contingency and logistic at the rate of Rs 0.85 lakh per squad.
The State government has advised the divisional forest authorities to provide forest firefighters to provide with safety gear like gumboots, helmet, hand gloves, fluorescent cotton jacket (orange colour), eye shield, water bottle, cotton napkin after due consultation with fire safety experts.
The DFOs have further been instructed to enhance the expenditure limit to Rs 1 lakh per squad if it is necessary for the obtainments while keeping the overall limit of funds given under Forest Protection and Fire Protection under CAMPA APO 2020-21.
