There is fire, there is politics, and then there is politics of fire. The raging fires in the forests of Sattari, especially in the Mhadei Tiger Reserve are clearly indicative that they were manmade. This is even more so when only the proposed Tiger Reserve is burnt. Activists, environmentalists and even locals on the spot say that this is nothing short of environmental murder.
This is environmental murder
The fire started on March 5, but even as late as March 10 there was no clarity on who were the persons responsible for starting the fire. Are we to believe that the entire State machinery cannot identify these unknown environmental murderers? Or is it that identifying them is too risky because of the hand that protects them?
They say the fire is man-made. But why can’t they catch the men who “made” this fire?
Everybody, from the Chief Conservator of Forests to even the Forest Minister, has not ruled out the fact that this was a manmade disaster or a manmade fire. But if this was a manmade fire, then isn’t the entire State machinery not able to figure out the men who made this fire? This is the biggest question, which is being asked by Goans, environmentalists, and protectors of Mhadei who know the forest inside out. Who would have the audacity to let a concentrated fire along the path of a proposed tiger reserve and do nothing to identify the culprits? It surely needs a powerful hand.
Was this done for lobbies that build real estate and control the system?
Along with the fire, the entire sanctuary and the reserve were attempted to be usurped. Goans sincerely hope that this wasn’t done for lobbies to come in – the same lobbies who would become kingmakers who get a system where forests and bio-diversity are dispensable, to build the foundation of skyscrapers. People vote to bring in people they trust, and faith is the foundation of this trust. We hope the people of Goa do not lose that faith.
Environmental warriors like Rajendra Kerkar, Claude Alvares to others have all pointed out certain key aspects of this disaster. Firstly, they have said that the fire broke out only in areas that had captured the presence of tigers on cameras – only the proposed Tiger Reserve was burnt. Claude Alvares has expressed his clear doubt and has even said that the Forest Minister is against the survival of the Mhadei sanctuary. He also pointed out the fact that a writ petition was filed by the Forest Minister, when he was an ordinary MLA, against Mhadei being declared as a Tiger Reserve. That writ petition has still not been withdrawn even though the MLA is now the Forest Minister.
While the fires have been raging, Team Herald reached the spot and traversed the entire area to figure out if there were any clues in the embers of the fires. The mood and the information coming out from the locals are very clear – the clues that emerge from the ashes of these fires have certain keywords. And these keywords are construction lobby, builder lobby, a lobby that is involved in the diversion of the Mhadei waters from Goa to Karnataka, and the lobby that wants manmade projects to score over a tiger habitat and the eco-sensitive critical bio-diversity hotspot that this region is.
Meanwhile, the Goa Chief minister Pramod Sawant has not only ordered an inquiry but has directed that an FIR be registered against those who started the fire.
But, we go back to the quintessential question, ‘Who started the fire’? And this question is not who lit the fire, but who directed it. The CM has said that action would be taken against forest guards if the inquiry finds them guilty of dereliction of duty; but, perhaps, the answer lies at a level far higher than those of forest guards.
Ultimately, people want clarity. Forest fires have raged for almost a week now – from Chorla Ghat to Vagheri Hill to Keri, and 150-plus acres have been absolutely destroyed. The acting Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has said that he had received satellite-based alerts and a structural plan to mobilize manpower and resources was in place to bring the situation under control. But, what begs the question is why is the situation not under control, as Team Herald’s reporters saw while they filmed in the forests.
Secondly, there was the logic given that there was an unusual rise in temperature; this, the environmentalist feel is rather far-fetched. Firstly, the temperatures have not shot up to unimaginable levels this time. This is certainly not the period where the temperatures have soared to the highest in that area. Thirdly, the night temperature in the forests is very cool, to the extent of being cold – add to that the dewfall from late evening till morning. So, the point of using the high temperatures as an excuse is far-fetched, especially when the fire seems to be coordinated in an area where there will be maximum destruction of the proposed Tiger Reserve and tiger paths.
The Mhadei sanctuary has always been a victim of the politics of the environment. The protection of wildlife and the protection of tigers has never really been part of the agenda or priority of the system. A destructive fire of this nature rips off the lungs of a region. Every region or land or city survives due to its green lungs. For instance, can you imagine Lisbon without its Parque Florestal de Monsanto?
This area was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999, and a wildlife management plan was also put in place, but that plan has not been notified even till the year 2023. Locals have also complained of massive illegalities in forest areas, even as it is a fact that they cannot absolve themselves completely of being party to these illegalities in some or in many cases, these are serious enough concerns on their own.
Noted environmentalists who’ve lived adjoining these forests, which are a part of their lives and work, like Prof Ramesh Gawas says, “Politicians are behind the fires in these forest areas. In the recent past, they have killed tigers and are now setting forests on fire. People who are opposing the Tiger Reserve in the State are responsible for this.” Prajal Sakhardande, a member of the Save Mhadei Save Goa movement, says: “Is the Mhadei fire a conspiracy to finish the battle against the Mhadei water diversion? Are the stacks loaded against Mhadei with the Centre and Karnataka hand-in-glove?”
Let us not be in a situation where such doubts are created and where fingers are being pointed at the very system that is supposed to protect Goa, which is ostensibly pulling the trigger to destroy Goa’s environment and wildlife.
We hope people do not lose faith in the authorities because that is going to be the most significant blow to the faith that people have in a democracy. And it is this faith, if lost, that needs to be restored, and restored immediately.
No honest government or party would want the state’s green resources to be destroyed. They understand this & must keep people’s faith
Ultimately, governments run on faith, and this faith has to be collective. One sincerely prays and hopes that people do not get this feeling that not only is the entire forest fire in Mhadei absolutely fishy, but at the same time have a doubt that powerful politicians could be fanning the fire and there are differences and politics being played internally as the battle for supremacy continues.
Let us hope that the people do not think that the fire of politics and ambition is even greater than the fire of destruction of wildlife and the sanctuary of Mhadei, which is no longer an accident but a clearly stage-managed plunder, and is nothing short of an environmental murder.
Governments are elected based on faith and trust. Our natural resources, our environment, our forests, and wildlife are a part of our shared treasures and assets. Its protection is no less important than the protection of human lives and livelihoods.
The disaster in Mhadei will not be limited to the geographical areas of Goa alone, but will only highlight how vulnerable our natural reserves are not only to the vagaries of nature but to the greed of people who run systems and governments. It is very important for the government of Goa to ensure that these feelings do not linger in the people and strict action is taken against the perpetrators of the fire.
There are tears being shed. How many tears of Goans do we need to douse the power-centric man-made fires in Mhadei?
The courts should be moved to ban any construction or development in such fire-struck areas forever
Most importantly, there has to be a very clear direction and even a rule that when these types of fires destroy large tracts of forests and the environment, there should be an absolute ban on any development and construction projects in these areas under any future rule or law. And that is important. Because a forest destroyed needs to be rebuilt, and it cannot be rebuilt by construction. It has to be rebuilt with trees, forests, the environment and wildlife. So, this restoration has to be completed and the forests need this very clear health insurance against any so-called development which will threaten their existence even further.
