MAPUSA
Sidestepping Opposition demand that no constructions will be allowed in forest land, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that the laws of the forest will remain supreme and wildlife sanctuaries and national parks will never be touched.
Rane also said that his department did not fail to control the forest fires but admitted there was scope to do better.
He also assured the House that the department will take steps for regeneration of the forest cover besides forming a comprehensive process to address future challenges.
“From 33 fires in the past we went to 104 fires last year. Therefore, what has happened last year was out of the way as a result of which we are preparing for the future. There are trekkers in the field for the last seven to eight months working with our forest guards and range officers to monitor and find out fire-prone areas. We are also doing our best to protect the lives in the forest,” Rane said, while responding to the debate on forest fire during the Question Hour.
He said the State government received support from the Prime Minister’s Office to bring the raging fire under control last year. He also said the department has used the services of Aapda Mitras who are trained in firefighting besides getting good support and help from the local community.
“We have taken several steps in order to prepare for any eventualities in future. We are going to incorporate drone technology. Plans are afoot to link our forest cover with the web net services of the Forest Survey India (FSI),” he said.
Taking on the forest minister, Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai charged that the forest fire was man-made.
He said while the revenue department said only 69.7 hectares of forests were affected by the fire, the forest department claimed 418 hectares were affected and questioned the miss-match of data supplied by different departments.
Similarly, he said while the fire department said there was no equipment to conduct mock drills on forest fires, the forest department claimed that they conduct mock drills.
Rane informed the House that 480 hectares of forest was affected by the fire last year.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said as per the reply he has received the forest department was understaffed and it had failed to control the fire.
“The vehicles used by the department are of 2000 model and they are ill-equipped. Your department has failed to control these forest fires,” Alemao said and asked what guarantee the minister will give that there will be no construction in forest areas.
Rane said the members should not try to sensationalise by speaking about "builder’s lobby" and "save Goa".
“The laws of the forest will rule the wildlife sanctuary and national park,” he said.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas said Goa’s forest has rich bio-diversity and wanted to know whether the damage to the flora and fauna was quantified during the fires by the department.
“Was the fire line in place for all our forest? It is predicted that such fires are bound to take place next year too. Are we going to draw such fire lines?” Viegas asked.
