Social activist flags frequent fires in Magadi taluk

Frequent instances of fires around Jyothipalya village in Magadi taluk, Bengaluru South district, have been flagged by social activist Shabnam Hashmi.

Ms. Hashmi, who runs Ajji’s Learning Centre, a non-profit education trust located in Jyothipalya village, said that since February 24, there have been three instances of forest fires.

“Initially I thought the fire was an accident or someone might have lit the dry leaves. However, instances of fires occurred two more times, and now it appears that these are not accidents but done deliberately,” she stated.

Linked to mining?

She alleged that a mining lobby could be behind the events, to clear the land. “These are huge fires and I think that there is a concentrated effort to start mining in this area. We have also been hearing blasts during night time,” she added.

Ms. Hashmi said that due to the forest fires and mining activities, wild animals are venturing out of the forest area and entering villages, posing a threat to both humans and livestock.

“Jyothipalya village is covered on three sides with forests. There have been instances of goats disappearing. My nephew recently lost two dogs, which were probably hunted by leopards,” Ms. Hashmi claimed.

She said that after the second fire incident on February 26, she had highlighted the issue on social media along with pictures and brought it to the notice of the Chief Minister, Environment Minister, and Bengaluru South District Deputy Commissioner, by tagging their official handles on X.

“However, there has been no response from anybody. This is clearly a deliberate act by a vested lobby to clear land and destroy animal habitats; there is a need for urgent intervention,” she said.

‘No forest land’

Meanwhile, Ramakrishnappa M., Deputy Conservator of Forest, Bengaluru South district, said that there is no forest land in Jyothipalya village and that the reported fire instances could have occurred on gomala (grazing) land.