Monitoring forest cover with drones soon: Chandra Mohan Patowary

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Following a directive from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the State Forest Department has decided to monitor the entire forest cover in the state with drones on a routine basis. The purpose is to see the forest cover and human habitations if any.

Talking to The Sentinel, Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said, "The thrust is to increase the forest cover in the state. Plantation of saplings goes on in the entire state. We will closely monitor the forest cover with drones. There was monitoring of forest cover with drones earlier also. However, that was in some limited areas. It is a clear-cut instruction from the Chief Minister to increase the forest cover and stop further encroachment of forest land in the state."

Patowary said, "The regular monitoring of forest cover after a 30-40-day interval will necessitate the department to own drones. We will procure some drones. Since the procurement follows an official process, including tendering, it will take some time. We are trying to speed up the procurement process."

"The state forest has territorial, wildlife and social forestry divisions. All divisions will monitor forest cover with drones after 30-40 days and analyse the data. Data analysis is a must for drawing plans. The monitoring will help ascertain the rate of deforestation in the state," the Minister said.

The state has 33 territorial, nine wildlife and 13 social forestry divisions.

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