After 30 hours of frantic efforts, fire at the Sundarbans’ Sharankhola Range was extinguished on Tuesday evening but on Wednesday noon local people again traced smoke billowing from the forest. The fire engulfed at least five acres of forestland in the range. On February 8 this year, three decimals of forestland was gutted by another fire in the Chandpai Range of the forest. In the last 20 years, at least 25 cases of fire were reported in the Sundarbans. The government has formed an investigation committee that would find out the causes of the fire.
According to the residents of Uttar Rajapur village, those living near the Sundarbans often enter the forest and set fire to it to collect firewood. The burnt area of the forest goes underwater during the monsoon and local fishermen use the space to catch fish. They said fishermen also set fire to the forest to use the fire-ravaged area as cattle grazing ground during the dry season and for fishing during the rainy season.
The deliberate setting fire to forest is causing huge damage to its unique biodiversity. Locals say though fresh grasses are seen there, Sundari plants are not growing there in the affected areas. Forest officials said many precious plant species like Sundari, Goran and Geowa were burnt into ashes in the recent fire. Soil fertility declined due to frequent incidents of fire.
Who will listen to any suggestion is unknown to us. The racketeers are not weak people to catch and punish. No daring crime is committed without connivance of party men of the government. We talk about the need special Fire Service office near the forest and train local people on how to protect the forest. The law enforcers should be strict in protecting the Sundarbans. Everybody knows that we cannot have a competent government because crimes and corruption are collectively in charge of the country.
It is sad to see the lack of love for the country.
