Tribals suspect sabotage behind Aarey Colony fire

Mumbai: Environmentalists and tribals have demanded investigation in the huge fire that escalated up to 4 kilometers in Goregaon east area behind infinity IT park. Suspecting foul play, they stated that there have been deliberate attempts to destroy the green spaces near Film City and Dindoshi hills through repeated fire incidents throughout the years.

The site where the massive fire erupted is a F.E. Dinshaw trust property, which lies in the vicinity of Aarey Milk Colony.  

The site, which was engulfed into the fire for almost twelve hours, has two tribal settlements in the vicinity, Habalpada and Kalmasakhonda. Tribals stated that this is the first time that the site has seen a fire of such large intensity.

“There have been fire incidents in the area, especially due to burning of dry leaves. But this time it was huge and the tribals now fear that if such incidents happen again, it would turn dangerous for us. We also have our farmlands in the vicinity and we take our cattle for grazing. We hope that the government would take appropriate actions and look for the culprits who are repeatedly doing this,” said Dinesh Habale, resident of Habalpada.

“Usually during this time of the year, the area witness accumulation of dry leaves. Sometimes outsider come and put dry leaves on fire, but what happened this time is worrisome. It could also have been done deliberately to free the area of forestation,” said Prakash Bhoir, a tribal from Aarey Milk Colony.

Environmentalists too highlighted that there were constant reminders to the state about alleged deliberate destruction in the forested area near Dindoshi hills.

“Every year, the forested area at Dindoshi hills is either chopped or burnt. It seems that nothing is allowed to grow there to keep the land free for developers,” said Stalin Dayanand, project director, NGO Vanashakti.

“We have been complaining to the forest department about the chopping of forested areas and the fire incidents, but there have not been even a proper site inspection,” Mr Dayanand added.

A level 3 fire occurred in the vicinity of Aarey Milk Colony at around 6.30 pm on Monday.