PANAJI
While the Rajya Sabha and Goa Legislative Assembly attributed the recent forest fires to extreme weather conditions, an ongoing inquiry into the sudden spurt has raised suspicions of human involvement, though unintentional, in the destruction of wildlife habitats and other forested areas. The possibility of deliberate fire is also not being ruled out though a final report is awaited. The survey is in its final leg.
The contradictions are evident. In his reply in the upper house on Thursday, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey claimed the fire was largely due to “a prolonged dry spell, unprecedented high temperatures, and low humidity” while Chief Minister Pramod Sawant “ in a reply to a Calling Attention in the legislative assembly last month - said “Goa recorded extreme weather conditions. There have been no or scant rains since mid-October and above-average temperatures and very low humidity is being seen.”
With no lightning strikes or extreme heat that could have naturally triggered such fires, experts are left puzzled, pointing towards potential man-made causes.
“While it may not have been intentional, activities such as campfires in the vicinity closer to human habitat, reckless disposal of cigarettes, or even slash-and-burn farming could have played a role in sparking the fires,” a senior bureaucrat, overseeing the matter between the Goa government and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, told The Goan.
The official went on to explain that 90 per cent of forest fires in India are man-made for the growth of grass or crop rotation, and in Goa where agriculture is being widely taken up, the burning of Mhadei wildlife sanctuary and other forest patches could be due to this reason. The armed forces’ firefighting effort through aerial support supplemented the ground team as far-flung and inaccessible areas which were caught in the fire.
The inquiry committee, comprising experts, has been working tirelessly to unravel the mystery behind the forest fires pan-Goa including fires in private forests that ravaged the State for almost a fortnight last month. The Goa government ordered an inquiry as the Centre has also been keeping a close watch on the situation. Incidentally, the fire rage was simultaneously prevalent in Karnataka and Kerala.
While the committee is yet to reach a definitive conclusion, total loss to the flora and fauna, the exact area gutted in fire, and the kinds of trees, logs, etc engulfed in the flames among others are also being assessed.
“We are thoroughly examining all aspects. The government is also working closely with the police to identify human involvement and bring those responsible to justice. Whether deliberate to clear the land for commercial purposes or the fires in different parts of Goa was unintentional human error or weather, everything will be covered in the final report,” the official said.
The Forest Department has already increased awareness to prevent such incidents in the future. Strict enforcement of the related laws, robust monitoring mechanisms, and community engagement are emphasised. With active fires almost nil, the officials continue to remain on field duty.
