VALPOI: With the State already on the boil on the contentious Mhadei diversion issue, the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary at Satrem has been burning for the past three days with the authorities concerned playing the fiddle like Nero when Rome was burning.
The raging fire has gutted several medicinal and age-old trees during the last three days and has spread across 100-plus acres of land in the Sanctuary, which is in dense forest. The forest guards engaged in the fire fighting operations.
According to villagers, the unknown persons have set the fire to Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. The locals said they contacted the Valpoi Fire Brigade and also informed the Valpoi Forest officials but they failed in dousing the raging fire which spread to the village hill at Satrem Gad.
The locals claim that the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in Satrem is inaccessible and the raging fire can only be extinguished with the help of helicopters. They accused the Forest Department of not initiating any action despite informing them.
When contacted, Range Forest Officer, Geeriesh Bailudkar said, “It’s a ground fire, some person/s have set the cashew plantation on fire, which fire spread to the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary area. For the last three days we have been trying to douse the fire. The team of around 40 forest officials are trying their level best to douse the fire in Sanctuary in Satrem.”
“Around 100 plus acres of land in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary at Satrem has been on fire for the past three days and the raging fire can be brought under control only with the help of helicopters. The higher authorities from the Forest Department need to take immediate action. The dense forest of Mhadei wildlife sanctuary is burning, which will affect humans and wild animals,” said Rajendra Kerkar, an environmentalist.
Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said he has issued directions to the acting APCCF Saurabh Kumar & Deputy Conservator of Forest to ensure that the situation is brought under control.
“We need to ensure the forest is protected, if need be, they have been instructed to take help of North Goa collector & Fire Services to control the fire,” Rane tweeted.
The Forest department is directed to report the latest fire development to the government on priority.
