Fire Fighting Initiatives by TTD Forest Department
Tirumala, 19 Apr. 18: As the high temperatures have already started crossing 40 degrees on the Mercury Scale in Tirupati and Tirumala, the Forest Wing of TTD has taken fire fighting initiatives to avoid forest fires in Seshachalam Ranges.
According to the new DFO of TTD, Phani Kumar Naidu, about 2750 hectares of forest area is under TTD purview. To vigil and safeguard this green cover, there are four 40-feet height watch towers each in Tirumala and Tirupati with two sleuths working in two shifts round the clock.
The watch tower vigil in Tirupati covers Nakkalavanka, Samidhulapatlu, Depot, SV Poor Home Nursery while Narayanagiri Padalu, Kakulakonda, Fanlagutta, Chittekkudu(near Galigopuram) will be covered under Tirumala.
On the other hand there are around 85 members in Tirupati and 64 members in Tirumala in Fire Fighting Squad discharging 24X7 duties in shifts. There are massive blowers, fire engines to put off the fire in the wake of any forest fires. Fire fighting lines have also been set to avoid spread of forest fire.
As a conservator of forest, TTD has also made arrangements to quench the thirst of wild beasts and birds during the summer season by setting up "Saucer Pits". As these cement water tanks are in the shape of a Saucer, they are named so and these will be convenient for the animals to drink water rather than the water tanks.
TTD has appealed its devotees not to carry any fire catching objects while trekking in footpath routes.
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