20120513 India Siolkars save the day after fire strikes forest
India May 12 2012 “Forest”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Siolkars save the day after fire strikes forest
Updated: 2012-05-13-02:16
A huge fire in a private forest on the hill in Vaddy-Querem of Siolim village destroyed patches of vegetation but was brought under control after villagers alerted the police and fire services.
The blaze burnt the grass and dry vegetation in nine patches in an area of about 1,200 sq m under survey No. 306/6. The locals suspect it might have been an intentional act of some vested interests, who are carving out forest land for commercial purposes.
The hillside of Vaddy is witnessing rapid development activity and parts of areas under survey No. 306/9 have already been taken up for housing. In TOI’s May 12 edition, it was reported that villagers had pointed out some irregularities, including cutting of terraces on the steep hill slope to open more area for housing .
According to the villagers, the fire was noticed at around 9pm at night in a property bearing survey no 306, which is being identified as a private forest in Vaddy-Querem in Siolim.
The residents called police control room and the fire brigade from Mapusa and the cops from Siolim outpost arrived and managed to douse the fire.
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/13114631.cms