Drone cameras to check wildfires at MM Hills

The Forest department will use drone cameras at Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Hanur taluk, Chamarajanagar district, to keep a watch on miscreants and prevent poaching.

The drone cameras will be used at Kollegal, PG Palya, Hanur, Ramapura, Male Mahadeshwara Hills and Palar ranges, according to sources. The Forest department is gearing up before the summer and has created fire lines to prevent wildfires from spreading. Besides, it had appointed fire watchers to keep vigil.

Forest fires were reported at Jageri and Hanur ranges under Kollegal limits last year. Two years ago, fires had reduced Bolibetta under MM Hill range near Ponnachi to ashes. A probe revealed that the fires were the handiwork of a few miscreants.

This year, the authorities have created fire lines of 450 to 500 km. The department has appointed around 400 fire watchers on permanent and contract basis, said V Yedukondalu, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary.

He said two drone cameras, including one from the department, will be used thrice every day. The cameras can capture the exact area of the fire and detect miscreants in four to five km range, he said.