Bhubaneswar, April 22: The state government has formulated a standard operating procedure to check forest fire.

According to the Forest Survey of India's report that was published last year, the forest cover in Odisha is 48,855sqkm, which constitutes 31.38 per cent of the state's geographical area.

But, it has lost a forest cover spread over 3,676 hectares in the past three years, prompting the government to take measures to check forest fires. Forest and environment minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said the fire incidents had been reported in 45 divisions across the state in the past three years.

Forests spread over 3,675.764 hectares had been affected in fire outbreak in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

"Keeping this in view, a standard operating procedure is being put in place for the first time this year to check forest fire," said Arukh.

There are provisions to create 1,850km firebreak, while the compensatory afforestation programme will put 18,500km firebreak to prevent spread of fire.

A firebreak is a gap in vegetation or other combustible materials that acts as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of forest fire.

It may come into existence naturally or be man-made. Rivers, lakes or canyon are natural firebreaks, while roads, four-wheel drive trails or highways act as man-made firebreaks in the forests.

Also, steps are being taken to take photographs of forest fire through satellites, and accordingly, inform the respective forest officials immediately through short message service (SMS) to contain it.

Besides, information on forest fire are being exchanged between the control room in the state forest headquarters and those set up in the forest divisions. Alerts are being sent to the concerned officials and also feedbacks on the follow-up actions are being collected, said official sources.

As many as 253 fire-fighting squads have been formed in 37 forest divisions to douse fire. While 37 squads have been formed out of the state plan funds with 370 personnel, 216 such quads with 2,160 personnel have been set up from the compensatory afforestation funds.

Necessary vehicle support has also been provided to these squads.

Assistance of nearby fire brigades is also being taken considering the intensity of fire. Fire extinguishers are also being provided to various forest divisions. For the first time, 410 fire fighters were provided to all the forest divisions this year.

Fiscal incentives are being given to 370 Van Suraksha Samitis, and they are being sensitised on the techniques of dousing forest fire. Awareness camps are being organised and leaflets and posters distributed among the people to sensitise them how to prevent the outbreak of forest fire.

Besides, seedlings have been planted in 5,441.58 hectares in the past five years to ensure rapid growth of forest.

A sum of Rs 140.94 crore has been provided for in the 2017-18 state budget for the purpose of afforestation.