VALPOI: The damage has been done. The raging inferno in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary at Satrem, which spread to Chorla Ghat, Vagheri Hill, Keri and Charavane, has burnt around 150 acres of land in the dense forest in the last few days. The inferno has also exposed the fact that the State Forest Department has no action plan in place.
Around 1,000 cashew plantations were gutted in the blaze which also accounted for the loss of most wild species.
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The locals said, “The forest officers are not at all serious in saving our forests. Many illegalities have been going on in wildlife areas and in some parts of the forests, for the past one year.” The locals claimed that despite informing the forest officials, they are not initiating any action.
They said, “The forest officers are just washing their hands off when we complain about the illegalities taking place in the wildlife areas.”
They said, “The capitalists, who want to start the business in the Vagheri hill area, have set the wildlife area on fire so that they can start the hotel and resort business here.”
“The Forest Department is in a mess. There is no fire management plan in place. The mapping of the fire-prone areas has not been conducted and no action plan for wildlife has been placed and even the wildlife management plan has been dormant for years,” the locals claimed.
“The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary was notified in 1999, the wildlife management plan was ready, but for reasons best known to the authorities concerned, the same has not been implemented. Central Funds have remained unutilised for the past 25 years,” said Rajendra Kerkar, an environmentalist.
“We visited Chorla Ghat, Kerim and Charavane areas to douse the fire and succeeded in bringing the blaze under control,” said Tulshidas Zarmekar, Duty Operator, Valpoi Fire Station.
The North Goa Collector, Valpoi Deputy Collector, Valpoi Mamlatdar and other officials visited the sites to take stock of the situation.
Navy deploys a Dornier Aircraft, Sea King Choppers for fire fighting ops
PANJIM: Indian Navy on Monday deployed a Dornier Aircraft and Sea King helicopters for fire fighting operations at Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, where over several acres of forest area was on fire in the last three days.
Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said that the Indian Navy identified eight active fire locations through aerial survey in the areas covering Chorla Ghat, Satrem, Pali and Charavane. He said that Forest Department was successful in dousing fire.
He also said that the cause of fire is mostly man-made and an inquiry is in progress to find out the miscreants.
“Earlier today morning, on request of the Forest Department, the Indian Navy deployed a Dornier Aircraft to ascertain ground situation and extent of fire areas. A total of eight active fire locations were reported by Navy consequent to aerial survey,” he tweeted.
The Minister said that on all locations, the Forest Department acted swiftly in coordination with all authorities and by late evening fire was doused successfully.
At places dead trees and wind flow further aggravated the fire, he added.
Rane said that directions have been issued to closely monitor the situation and take necessary action to control fire.
A total of 15 teams of around 150 forest frontline staff, fire trekkers and labourers are deployed to control fire.
“There has been no major loss to flora & fauna,” he tweeted.
