Bhubaneswar: Odisha recorded 73,418 forest fire incidents between 2024 and 2026, affecting 11,732.561 hectares of forest land, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia informed the state assembly on Tuesday.
In a written reply to a question by Balangir MLA Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, the minister said the forest fire incidents were reported across the state during the three-year period, with the affected forest area totalling 11,732.561 hectares.
The minister also provided details of funds received by the state from the National Authority, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), under the Annual Plan of Operations (APO) up to 2026-27.
According to the details furnished in the Assembly, Odisha received Rs 10,229.52 crore from the National Authority up to August 25, 2026. Interest accrued on the funds up to September 10, 2026, stood at Rs 1,673.64 crore, taking the total funds received, including interest, to Rs 11,903.16 crore.
Of the total funds, Rs 6,881.23 crore had been spent under various APOs, while Rs 4,939.60 crore was invested in ATB and government loans up to May 12, 2026. The balance funds available stood at Rs 82.33 crore, according to the minister’s reply.
The minister also informed the House about the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes over the last five years.
Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, a total of 12,794.448 hectares of forest land was diverted for non-forest use, he said. In lieu of the diversion, compensatory afforestation (CA) was stipulated over 23,392.337 hectares.
Of the stipulated area, compensatory afforestation over 10,155.089 hectares had been achieved up to 2025-26, the minister said.
The state currently has 16,245 Van Suraksha Samitis functioning for forest fire protection, according to the minister’s reply.
