PANAJI
Raging fires continued to give anxious moments to authorities with 5 fires still active on Monday.
Since March 5, Goa reported sporadic fires in wildlife sanctuaries, government forests, private areas, comunidade land, plantations and revenue land, etc; and 48 fire spots were detected.
As of 4 pm on Monday, five active fires at Surla I and Surla II in Mollem, Potrem Netravali, Khopardem Beat Valpoi and Shigao beat were reported. Seven active fires at Keri Nadkeri beat, Gullem, Borim, Okambi-Piliem, Paguchi Dongre, Curdi-Colomba and Cumari Netravali were doused.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has called for a meeting with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Goa government officials to review the spate of wildfires in the State.
The review meeting is slated through video conferencing at 11 am on Tuesday, which will be attended by the officials of SDMA including District Collectors, Goa Police, Fire Services, among others.
“The Member and Secretary in-charge, NDMA shall chair a meeting with officers of MoEFCC and Government of Goa to review the action taken to deal with the forest fire situation in the State,” reads a letter from Deputy Secretary to Government of India (Policy and Plan) Rakhee Sadhu, to Goa Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel said.
The government officials will present the status report on fire incidents, total area burnt, pre-fire season preparedness, response, and inter-departmental coordination among other details to the NDMA.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane continued to give updates on the fires.
In a tweet he said, “the @goaforests is actively monitoring the situation, and the total ground team is acting immediately and urgently to put out all reported flames. Five fires are currently active as of 4 pm on March 13. More than 450 employees and volunteers worked together to put out the fire in total. Up until 4 pm today, seven active fires have been put out".
