Causes of Sundarbans fire need to be pinpointed
Failure to prevent recurrence of fire incidents in Chandpai and Sharankhola ranges under East Wing of the Sundarbans Forest Division (SFD) has become a cause of concern.
Shortage of manpower, logistic support, fire extinguishing equipment and lack of measures to stop careless use of fire and combustible substances are seen as the reasons for fire while reports on findings by probe committees formed every time after the incidents never came to light for reasons unknown.
The forest department in 2009 declared 12 stations, camps and patrol outposts of Chandpai and Sharankhola ranges under East Wing of SFD as 'fire zone' considering their importance to protect resources of the forest.
The twelve areas within 30 kilometres of the 'fire zone' are Joymoni, Chandpai, Baiddyomari, Katakhali, Barotala out post, Jiudhara station, Jiudhara Camp, Amurbunia outpost, Gulshakhali camp under Chandpai range, Dhansagor station, Dhansagor camp and Nangli.
During the last nine years, the East Wing faced 15 fire incidents that damaged different species of trees on over 50 acres of land.
On earlier occasions, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the East Wing of SFD Mihir Kumar Dey blamed careless use of cookers and leaving of burning butts of cigarettes by woodcutters, honey collectors, fishermen and bawalis for these fire incidents.
However, this time he did not rule out the possibility of acts of sabotage to destroy forest resources.
"I do smell something wrong with recurrence of fire particularly in the East Wing of Sundarbans Forest Division. Report on probe findings will tell it," the DFO said.
"Shortage of manpower makes it quite difficult for forest department to do round-the-clock patrol duty to stop unauthorised men who enter the forest under different guises with motives. The department needs adequate fund to gear up programmes for creating awareness among the people about use of fire and combustible substances in the forest," he said.
Three 'mysterious' fire incidents that occurred on March 1, 8 and 9 in Nangli camp area under Chandpai Range of the East Wing of SFD burnt down a large number of plants and trees on vast areas.
The probe committee has been asked to reveal the real cause and estimate damage.
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