Forest department will fast track periphery wall around SGNP in Thane after suspected mischief in forest fires

Thane: The forest department will push for the speedy construction of a 52-km-long periphery wall around the SGNP area in Thane to deter encroachers and plug illegal access points after initial observations in the spate of forest fires that scorched nearly 20 acres of forest land at different times since Sunday hinted at mischief.BJP corporator Sitaram Rane, whose ward skirts the forest area, suspects the fires were the handiwork of drug addicts who seem to be openly accessing the jungles in the absence of adequate patrolling. A local resident also pointed out that the fires were possibly being triggered by vested interests trying to encroach into the restricted area.Environment activists blamed the porous entry points to the forest area as a major contributor to the exploitation of the green zone and did not deny the possibility of stray lighted matches being carelessly discarded, which may also have triggered the blaze. They sought a thorough investigation. Activist Rohit Joshi pointed out the understaffed department, with inadequate gadgets to monitor or even douse such blazes.A senior official confirmed the inadequacies and said they were investigating the cause of the fire and could register cases against unknown miscreants once the reasons were established. "Natural fires in the forest in this part are rare. Our initial probe hints at possible mischief, as miscreants access the forest through various unguarded points. A project to construct a wall and seal all porous points to the forest skirting the city limits will also be fast-tracked," said a senior forest official.