• Rewards are being given to informers, staff, public etc in cash as per "Reward for Detection of Forest Offence Rules, 2004" to encourage them to cooperate in forest protection activities. During 2020-21 an amount of Rs.33, 31,898/- has been provided to different Divisional Forest Officers towards reward amount to the informers.

Online Timber Transit Permit System (OTTPS) has been developed to facilitate the applicants (citizen/institution) to apply for transit permit of tenant timber from private holding land online. An individual/ applicant will apply through the internet facility available Mobiles /Desktop/ Jana Seva Kendra in the website www.ttpermitodisha.in. Applicant can easily apply for timber transit permit from any place and and track his application status at any point of time. The user Guidelines/ manual for applying application through online system in details is available at the 1st webpage of the said website. In order to implement a transformational Action Point of 5T Governance, the timeline for issue of timber transit permit is fixed to 42 days for disposal through Online Timber Transit Permit System (OTTPS) which was earlier 172 days. All the provisions such as joint verification, registration of Property Hammer Mark, submission of tree enumeration list, issuance of T.T Permit etc are streamlined through this online application system which is in operation from 25.10.2019.

In Odisha the dry deciduous forests cover approximately 50% of the total forest area. These forests are very much vulnerable to natural disasters such as forest fires, drought, floods, cyclones etc. Out of all these, the dominant factor of hazard in the Forests is FOREST FIRE which occurs from the month of February to June of every year. Forest fire is a regular phenomenon in summer season throughout the state wherein the temperature increases during leaf shedding periods of deciduous natural forests and plantations.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on prevention of forest fire has been prepared and communicated to all field officials for its effective implementation to combat the incidences of forest fire strategically. An alert from Forest Survey of India (FSI) on forest fire incident is quickly disseminated through the State's own IT intervention to the field with geo-coordinates up to Forest Block level for necessary prompt follow up action for immediate control of forest fire. In addition, fire lines are made regularly in the fire prone areas to prevent accidental spread of fire; in the current year, total of about 4700 kms of such lines have been created besides maintenance of over 19,000 kms of existing firelines. Further, during the fire prone season, the fire fighting squads are made functional by engagement of the local villagers; over 250 nos of such squads have been engaged this year. In addition, Control room has already been functioning 24x7 at Forest Headquarters besides the Divisional HQs and even one toll free number 1800-3457-158 has been given for transmitting information on forest fire incidence, protection matters, smuggling, man - animal conflict issues and other forestry issues. This mechanism facilitates dissemination of information to field units on forest fire & forest protection matters. To sensitize the local community and to ensure their active involvement in control / prevention / breaking of forest fire, a series of awareness creation meetings at village level are being organized. The local communities / forest fringe villagers are also being extended various incentives so to ensure their active support for this purpose. All these measures have improved the position with regard to prevention and control of forest fire incidents as is evident from the following table

However, this year, particularly in the month of Feb'2021, there is an increase in forest fire incidents reported, primarily because of lack of rainfall from Nov'2020 onwards and early/ sudden increase in the temperature. We have already attended most of the spots timely. Further, a State Level Task force under the chairmanship of Dr Sandeep Tripathi, former PCCF & HoFF, Odisha and comprising of even representatives of FSI, Dehradun; ICFRE, Dehraudun and NRSC, Hyderabad has been constituted to review the ongoing Forest fire incidences, causes & immediate containment besides suggesting measures for augmenting the existing fire management protocols.

The State Government have received financial assistance from Government of India through Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Forest Fire Prevention & Management programme in 60:40 basis (i.e. 60% Central Share & 40% State Share). The details are given below:

Further, funds under CAMPA are also being provided for combating the forest fire. For the year 2020-21, funds allotted are Rs.2100 lakh.

Current Position of Saw Mills

• Seven number of Saw Mills owned by OFDC Ltd are functioning in the State. The District/ Forest Division wise details are furnished below.

• In accordance with Forest & Environment Department Notification no. 15644/ F&E dt.18.07.2018, a State Level Rehabilitation Committee has been constituted for establishment, relocation and functioning of saw mills in the identified Industrial Estates of the State as per the provisions contained in Odisha Saw Mills and Saw Pits (Control) Act, 1991 and the Odisha Saw Mills and Saw Pits (Control) Amendment Act, 2010.
• The Rehabilitation Committee has selected 210 Saw Mill for rehabilitation.
• The Industries Department has notified 37 Industrial Estates in 26 Revenue Districts for rehabilitation of eligible Saw Mills.
• Out of 210 numbers of Saw Mills selected for rehabilitation, 123 nos. of private Saw mills are running.