PANAJI/OLD GOA
After a hiatus of several days, fire incidents gave anxious moments to authorities. While a large tract of mangroves was destroyed Dandi-Agassaim, a fire broke out again at the Margao Municipal Council’s garbage dump near the KTC bus stand.
Till late evening, the Margao Fire brigade was continuously engaged in the firefighting operations to bring the fire and smoke under control.
Thousands of litres of water were sprayed on the dry waste dump by the fire brigade, as firefighters roped in three tenders in the firefighting operations.
At Dandi-Agassaim, fires damaged mangroves along the coast even as MLA Viresh Borkar raised suspicion of foul play.
When The Goan visited the site first on Monday night, MLA Borkar along with RG members was seen coordinating with the firemen in putting out the fires.
Tiswadi Mamlatdar Kaushik Dessai also remained present after being informed about the incident by MLA Borkar.
Finally, it was at around 10.30 pm that the firemen, both from Old Goa and Panaji fire stations, were able to bring the fires under control.
However, on Tuesday afternoon, the fires got re-ignited and the RG members led by Agassaim panchas Julius Almeida and Lakshadeep Gawas tried to douse the fire.
But, as the wind was picking up, the Old Goa fire station was informed and the firemen brought the fires under control after an hour’s operation.
Later, speaking exclusively to The Goan, MLA Borkar said that after his personal investigation it has been found that the fires were deliberate.
“My boys found that fires were deliberately lit at several places all along the mangroves area and we have placed the evidence before the Mamlatdar so that the issue is probed and the miscreants are brought to book,” Borkar stated.
“We also found that some sort of chemical was used to keep the fires going,” the MLA informed while stating that he would bring it to the notice of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the Environment Minister and Forest Minister to initiate an inquiry into the matter.
When questioned further, Borkar informed that there could be a possibility of a project being planned in the area and the fires are part of the plan to finish the mangroves so that there are no hindrances to the project.
