The raging Sattari forest fires appear to be finally easing off, thanks to the relentless efforts of the Indian navy and other State authorities. The fires may soon be doused, but the government, especially the forest department, will still have a task cut out because the discourse is veering towards human involvement and sabotage.
Nearly after a week, an FIR has been registered against "unknown persons", and entry into the wildlife areas has been restricted with a warning that trespassers will be prosecuted. The job at hand is to connect the dots that lead to the suspicion of arson.
With the FIR lodged, authorities will now have to dig deep into conspiracy theories and unravel the fire mystery. While the weather may not provide a perfect foil to the human element, authorities must tread a cautious path because fires have been witnessed in several other hilly areas across the State.
Environmentalists, meanwhile, have junked the theory of rising temperatures sparking off Sattari fires because of the semi-deciduous nature of the forest. Instead, they believe that the fire has a pattern and clearly indicates that the wind flow is not responsible for the spread.
The sprawling Sattari forest has its own set of issues ” from land and landlords to animal habitats. It may be noted that several families are residing in the forest areas, many of which are in direct conflict with wildlife. In January 2020, the death of four tigers in the Sattari forest left Goans, especially wildlife conservationists, in shock. While weather keeps liberal thoughts alive, authorities must closely study each fire from a different perspective.
Fires out of vengeance or with an agenda could be catastrophic in the long run. The current fires have not only destroyed plantations but have forced animals to shift their habitat. Also, the area's biodiversity stands destroyed, and restoration would take a few years. Understandably the authorities are seized of the matter, and the recent urgency over the issue is visible. We only hope that this probe does not die down with the fires but is taken to its logical conclusion.
On another point, while the talk has been over the rising temperatures, the education department's belated circular calling for the early closure of schools for two days has only exposed the pathetic functionality of systems.
The Education Department issued a circular on the directives of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to suspend classes before noon for two days ” Thursday and Friday. The irony is that the circular was first issued late on Thursday, leaving parents clueless. Yes, the circular brings welcome relief to students in hot and humid conditions, but this could have been conveyed the previous evening.
Giving barely an hour for schools to implement orders meant more chaos in informing parents, guardians and vehicle drivers, leaving some students stranded until full-time. Unfortunately, the department continues with its authoritarian ways showing no concern for school management down the line.
