Photo: Messenger
Why fire break out in Sundarbans’ Chandpai range again and again? The fire that originated in Latif’s Chila area near Amurbunia patrol post of the mangrove forest around 3:30 pm on Saturday has sparked concern. The concern is not only that it is causing loss of biodiversity and ecosystems. Rather, it is a matter of concern for this reason, why are such 'fire incidents' happening repeatedly in Chandpai range? Fire broke out 32 times in the last 22 years and 25 times in the last two-and-a-half decades, there have been at least 25 fires in that area alone. Fortunately, the fire did not spread widely. The fire did not spread to trees or branches, but only spread sporadically over the ground.
The fire that spread at Amurbunia in Chandpai range of Sundarban east forest division has now been brought under control, Environment, forest and climate change ministry in a press release said this on Sunday.
Apart from the forest department, several units of the fire service, Navy, police, district administration, upazila administration, public representatives, CPG, volunteers and local people worked together who extinguish the fire.
The actions of those involved in firefighting is undoubtedly commendable. But the question will continue because of the frequent fires in this area. The forest department, however, almost always blames the carelessness and apathy of the Bawali and Mowali; But their same stamen is not trustworthy enough. According to them, animals including tigers and deers are available in that area and access from the locality is easy, so the traffic of poachers is high. Access or intrusion of ‘legal' fishermen and forest-dependent people are no less. But professional groups dependent on the Sundarbans are generally very cautious. Tobacco fires are also not supposed to spread to tidally wet ground. After all, whatever the cause, the responsibility for the fire cannot be ignored by the forest department.
We think that the complaints of forest-dependent people are acceptable. According to them, a group set fire to the adjacent area to 'clean' the Sundarbans reservoir to get lease of Sundarbans reservoirs. As a result, fires occur every year. We hope that the higher authorities will look into these observations seriously. In this context, the formation of an inquiry committee headed by a local forest officer after every fire incident is also questionable. If there is manipulation of the lease syndicate behind the fire; If the forest department is involved in it; what else will the investigation committee do?
Messenger/Disha
