MARGAO
As the fire continued to rage at the Navelim-Drampaur hillock on Monday, locals joined the firefighting operations as the fire destroyed a vast area playing host to the seasonal fruit-bearing trees, besides the bio-diversity of the area.
Navelim sarpanch Paul Pereira who visited the site along with deputy sarpanch Damu Chawan, Euleterio Carneiro and members of the VDC and bio-diversity management committee, told The Goan that he has requested Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar to speak to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and rope in the Coast guard in the fire fighting operation.
He said since the fire brigade cannot take the fire tenders to the hillock, spraying water by a helicopter could have offered a solution to bring the fire under control.
Paul said the sarpanch of the neighbouring Dramapur-Sirlim Avita Pereira also visited the site to take stock of the situation.
“We have come across a host of seasonal fruit-bearing trees including cashew, charan, and kandam besides the rich biodiversity of the area destroyed by the fire. The hillock, spread around the villages of Navelim, Dicarpale, Areal, Dramapur and Sarzora, also plays host to animals including leopards,” he said.
The fire brigade returned to the hillock on Monday at noon to resume the firefighting operations. Fire Officer Gill D’Sa informed that they managed to bring the fire under control around Monday noon. He, however, said the fire brigade will maintain vigil at the site.
