In recent times, several forest fires have been reported in and around Mumbai. Citizens have long reported noticing licks of flame and billowing smoke, approaching from the forests in Aarey and Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).
Each year, usually between February and May, a couple of fires break out in nearby farmlands, or in the forests, speaking about the same environmental activist Zoru Bhatena stated, “The forest fires during these times are not unusual, however, the forest fires that are happening daily at Aarey and SGNP are quite suspicious,”
Speaking about the cause of the fires, Bhatena stated, “Fires can be started by local people who want the grassland to be cleared, that is a normal system which is followed everywhere but these fires could also be started by miscreants who want to keep the area deforested. Some of these suspicious fires are obviously being done with the intention of keeping the place clear, without greenery. Why are some people doing this? Well, each person would have their own reason probably,”
In recent developments, several fire incidents have been reported from the grasslands of Aarey forest due to which many environmental activists and local residents have written to the state government along with Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), demanding to restart a fire station at the Aarey forest that was made redundant ten years ago.
According to reports, more than 40 fire incidents have been reported from the grasslands, since February. Moreover, environmentalists have further stated that after the lockdown was imposed across the city, incidents of forest fires have intensified.
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