Team Herald
PANJIM: Taking serious note of the multiple fire incidents in and around the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and raging blaze reported in several other parts of the State, Goa government has decided to prohibit entry of people in the forest areas and arrest and prosecute those with unauthorised access under the Wild Life Protection Act.
Following directions from the Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, the department has posted Deputy Conservators of Forest (DCFs) in various ranges to closely monitor the wildfire incidents and to act against those people indulging in mischief inside the sanctuary.
He addressed media persons after carrying out an aerial survey to assess the forest fires and damage.
Rane said that so far no animals are killed and the trees are intact with no major damages. “However, the scientific and departmental assessment over the loss of forest area, species, flora and fauna is underway and the report would be made public. Currently, the focus is to douse the fire,” he said.
Rane said that a circular would be issued under Wildlife Protection Act to prohibit cum regulate entry of people in the forest areas. People indulging in mischief inside the sanctuary will face action under the Forest Act, he said.
“Entry into the wildlife sanctuaries will be prohibited. People will not be allowed to put wildfires. No fire line will be allowed without our permission. There are people who come to do picnic…mischief…this will not be allowed. Those found with unauthorised entry into forest will be arrested and prosecuted,” the Minister said.
He said that the Range Forest Officers and the forest guard posted in their respective areas will have to stay there 24x7 to monitor the entry.
Considering the sporadic forest fires across the State, the department has decided to depute DCFs for closely monitoring of forest fire incidents, assessment and deployment of required manpower for the purpose including patrolling to attend to active forest fires in coordination with Fire and Revenue Departments, Village Panchayat and all concerned wherever required.
The officers will supervise and ensure regular patrolling of Forest Frontline staff, trackers, and others to attend to any forest fire immediately so as to confine forest fire in minimum area and to control further spread. Officers shall coordinate with DCF Working Plan to receive inputs about any new fire reported through FSI portal/alert and act accordingly.
“DCF team will be responsible and will have to provide an explanation whatever happens in the perimeters of the wildlife sanctuary. We will not allow the destruction of the Mhadei forest,” Rane said.
Further, Rane said that the government has taken aid from the Defence Ministry for in-principle approval of additional helicopters and one will be coming from Karnataka.
“It appears prima facie to be a man-made incident. But it is too early to say considering the rising temperature and humidity which is unusual and could be also a cause. A detailed inquiry as per the discussion with the chief minister last night has been ordered,” he said.
Helicopters of the Indian Navy on Wednesday morning conducted sorties over the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary to assess the extent of forest fires that have been raging for the last five days.
The Indian Navy in a statement issued said that a major fire was reported in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday. “Upon request by the District Administration, #IndianNavy Dornier from INS Hansa undertook a survey of the area and localised the fire. Fire-fighting equipment was flown in from Naval Units based at Kochi and Mumbai. Multiple sorties for fighting fire were undertaken by Sea King aircraft of the Indian Navy in bad weather. Fire was systematically contained to a large extent jointly with the Forest Department and the local population,” the Navy said in a statement.
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Summer wildfires engulf forested hillocks across four talukas
Major wildfires raged in different locations across four talukas in Goa on Wednesday, keeping exhausted Forest Department and Fire Services personnel on their toes all day. At Nauta in Cortalim, a hillock covered with dry scrub forest vegetation went up in flames on Tuesday night, and with no access through the hilly terrain, fire fighters struggled to contain it. Navy helicopters were pressed into service, and the blaze was doused on Wednesday night. A similar fire in Sanguem taluka’s Cotarli village claimed numerous long-standing forest trees, and was brought under control by fire personnel who had to walk three kilometres on foot to douse it. Multiple fires were reported in the hills of Durga-Chinchinim village, Sarzora village and Dramapur, causing significant damage to the wildlife and biodiversity of the forested stretch.
In North Goa, a large fire spread across a difficult-to-access hillock in the Parra-Anjuna-Assagao area, and was doused in a joint operation with local volunteers and fire-fighters.
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Fire active at nine forest locations: Rane
Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said that as on Wednesday the aerial view shows nine active fire locations, where the authorities are acting to bring the situation under control.
He said that the fire is witnessed at sites of Caranzol, Satrem, Mhadei, Anmod Ghat, Kalem, Dharbandora, Sanguem and a private forest at Parra. “Our forest officials are on spot and are working on war footing to bring the situation under control,” he said.
Rane said that in the last five days, fires at 18 locations have been doused successfully.