The reply of Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane revealing only two reptile deaths in forest fires since 2019 has raised eyebrows of the Opposition benches. Opposition MLAs questioned the reply of the Forest Minister on how the Forest Department came to such a small figure. The Opposition demanded an independent Judicial or expert inquiry into the forest fire.
Oppositon Leader Yuri Alemao placed a Private Members Resolution before the house demanding a high-level inquiry into the cause of fire incidents in Mhadei and other eco-sensitive areas. He demanded that the commission be given the mandate to conduct a inquiry into fire incidents.
Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said, "I don't think there is a reason to have any high-level inquiry into the forest fires as all details have been given.
While Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured of getting the necessary equipment to avoid forest fires in the future the Opposition said that only having advanced equipment will not help the cause. Opposition MLA Vijai Sardesai said, "There is a need to do a fact-finding on who and how these fires started".