Chennai, July 7 (IANS) Tamil Nadu is set to introduce advanced technology to strengthen forest protection by deploying heavy-lift drones capable of carrying up to one tonne of water to extinguish forest fires and installing smart electric fencing and satellite-based surveillance systems to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Forests Minister R.V. Ranjith Kumar said the initiatives form part of the State government’s strategy to tackle the growing challenges posed by rising temperatures, prolonged dry spells and the increasing incidence of forest fires across Tamil Nadu’s forested regions.

The Forest Department has already prepared drone-based water spraying systems that can rapidly transport and release large quantities of water over fire-affected areas.

The heavy-lift drones are expected to significantly improve the department’s ability to respond to fires in remote and inaccessible forest locations where conventional firefighting vehicles and personnel often face delays.

The move comes amid increasing concerns over the impact of climate change, with higher temperatures and dry weather conditions raising the risk of wildfires in several parts of the State during the summer months.

The government is also preparing to introduce technology-driven measures to minimise conflicts between humans and wild animals. The proposed system includes smart electric fencing designed to prevent elephants and other wild animals from entering villages and agricultural fields, thereby reducing attacks on people and damage to crops.

In addition, satellite-based cameras will be installed to continuously monitor the movement of wild animals in forest areas and along their migration routes.

The surveillance network is expected to provide real-time information to forest officials, enabling them to issue timely alerts and take preventive measures before animals stray into human habitations.

According to the minister, Tamil Nadu is expected to become the first State in India to deploy such an integrated technological system for wildlife monitoring and conflict mitigation.

The project is aimed at improving both public safety and wildlife conservation while reducing losses suffered by farmers living near forest boundaries. The minister had earlier inspected the railway level crossing near the Old Railway Station in Kancheepuram following demands from local residents to ease traffic congestion in the area.

The inspection focussed on a proposal to convert an existing one-way road into a two-way carriageway to improve traffic movement. The minister also reviewed the feasibility of the proposal with Southern Railway authorities, who indicated that necessary steps would be taken to implement the road improvement work, paving the way for smoother traffic flow in the busy locality.

–IANS

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