the goan I network
PANAJI
The fired was noticed around 5.30 pm and calls were immediately made to the Porvorim Police station and the fire brigade. Panch member of Ward 7, Deepali Vernekar, was informed and she and her husband Guruprasad and their son rushed to the site and made calls to the fire brigade again.
A team of fire officials reached within 15 minutes and controlled the fire. If left blazing, there was a grave risk that the fire would spread to the entire low-lying valley area, officials said. An official said the blaze seemed to have been purposely set, but that there was no way to ascertain who was behind it.
Police officer on patrol duty, Rohan Kepkar, and panch member of Ward 6 of Penha de Franca, Sandeep Chodankar, also reached the site. The panch members said the plot of land has recently been bought by someone called Salgaonkar.
Stumps of small trees were also visible in the blaze. Loss of wildlife because of the blaze could not be estimated but the valley area in which the plot is situated is host to many trees and at least a dozen species of birds, including golden orioles, brown bulbuls, white-throated kingfishers, coppersmith barbets, peacocks, woodpeckers, thrushes, owls and night jars.
Cutting trees without legal permit and setting fire is illegal, said fire personnel.
