Panaji: Goa Forest department will conduct aerial surveillance through drones to track the movements within the wildlife sanctuaries and forest areas.
State Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane told reporters that the drones would be employed by the department to track movement in the forest areas and also keep a check on the instances of wildfire.
Rane said that the state government is also taking help of Forest Survey of India to monitor the movement in the forest areas.
He said that around 600 existing trackers would be given refresher training by December 31 which are ready to tackle any disasters in the wildlife areas and forests.
Rane said that 76.5 hectars of area was affected due to forestfires last year, which would be revived with the planting of indigenous plants. He said that the state forest department plans to undertake plantation in 365 hacters of area.
“Our responsibility is to protect forests by using all the technology available,” he said.
The minister said that the instances of forest fires witnessed last year were learning experience, based on which, the precautions would be taken for this year.
Rane said that the District collectors have been asked to issue notification warning people against fire in the forest areas.
