log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday MONDAY MARCH 13, 2023 GOA 12 pages Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO.264 2 Forest fires: Aerial operations go on Margao nullahs continue to channel raw sewage and waste into river Sal GOA Millet, the poor man’s food gets super reception in Mapusa 8 FIRES STILL ACTIVE: FOREST DEPT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Two military helicopters continued flying sorties and dropping tonnes of water over regions of the Goa’s forests affected by raging wildfires since Sunday morning even as forest officials reported yet another spot where a fresh fire broke out in Valpoi. As of Sunday evening, the Forest Department said a total of eight fires were active and nearly 450-plus volunteers were deployed in the continuing joint fire-fighting operation. Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, meanwhile, continued to post updates on the forest fires and claimed there was only one new fire recorded on Sunday since morning at Okambi Piliem in a government forest area. “Hearing that there has only been one new fire recorded since morning is a relief. I am grateful to our forest team, the Indian Air Force, the Navy, and our locals who have fought this fire valiantly for days,” Rane said in a tweet on Sunday evening. In yet another tweet, the forest minister said, eight The Goan (Playstore) A fireman trying to douse the blaze that resurfaced at the Gogol Mutt, Margao on Sunday. Three fire incidents at Margao MARGAO: Dry grass and vegetation opposite the Sonsodo waste dumping site caught fire on Sunday giving anxious moments to authorities even as fire resurfaced at the Gogol Mutt hillock and at Monte Hill near the Ester Hospital. Fire Officer Gill D’Sa informed that dry grass and vegetation opposite the Sonsodo site was on fire but timely action brought it under control. He also said a fire tender was sent to Gogol Mutt again after fire resurfaced on the hillock . active fires were still raging -- two at Surla (Mollem government forests), one in the Cumari area of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and another at Potrem in a government forest in Netravali. Four other fires in government forests are raging at Kopardem-Valpoi, Shigao, Curdi-Colomba and the new one at Okambi-Piliem, Rane >Continued on P6 5 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Yogurt-based home remedies to get glowing skin 10 SPORTS India beats Australia 5-4 in FIH Pro League in rare win 12 6 days on, Kalay fire continues to spread THE GOAN I NETWORK SANGUEM Despite frantic efforts by the team of firefighters and assistance from helicopter service, the fire at Kalay village within Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary continued to spread in the adjoining areas on the sixth day. Given the extensive damage caused to the environment and wildlife, a large number of village youth and those associated with Bajrang Dal and RSS also assisted the firefighting team of the Forest Department. The village youth have been working tirelessly in tandem with the team of the forest department to help the douse the fire but given the thick foliage it remains to be totally extinguished as of now. Former Sarpanch of Kalay Village Kishore Rama Gauns Dessai informed that the Department also sought help of helicopter service today which made several sorties around the hillock spraying water which helped in controlling the fire to some extent. The fire has now almost reached the top of the hill towards Collem side and is likely to be brought under control by Monday if helicopter sorties continue. Workers from the Goa Human Resource Develop- ment Corporation were also brought to assist in the firefighting operation which helped a lot, informed Dessai who himself has put it in around 50 workers of his own since past few days. As of now, a vast portion of thick forest cover is damaged which is highly disturbing, added Dessai.