Raging fires continue to give anxious moments to authorities with five fires still active. Goa reported sporadic fires in wildlife sanctuaries, government forests, private areas, comunidade land, plantations, etc. The good news is that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light rainfall and thundershowers for the next few days. The rains will hopefully help douse the forest fires in areas which are inaccessible. It is understood that the leader of the opposition in Goa has demanded that the government declare the forest on government land, which has been scorched due to the recent fire incidents as ‘No Development Zone’ and should not allow the conversion of the said land to settlement zones or for eco-tourism projects. It seems prudent to have a high level enquiry as well as a scientific study into the recent fire incidents. But most importantly the government needs to replenish forests which have been lost due to the fire. A massive tree-plantation drive needs to be conducted. In replenishing the forest, we can ensure the land mafia does not convert it into concrete jungles.
