VASCO: Even as the Sonsoddo fire exposed the inability of the State’s administration to contain the issue or preventing it from taking place in the first place; another garbage dump at Sada is a potential health hazard and is yet to grab the attention of the authorities concerned.
The solid waste dumping site, which is situated next to the MPT hospital and housing colony has been giving sleepless nights to the residents of the area as they are have to deal with the unbearable stench on a daily basis. With the Biogas treatment plant yet to be operation and the compound wall yet to be built, no solutions are in sight as additional waste finds its way here, increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases spreading in the monsoon period. Moreover, questions if the site is free from a fire breakout are yet to be answered by the authorities. However, the Mormugao Municipal Council appears to be more bothered about its own musical chairs when it comes to who gains power.
Against the backdrop of locals fear that they are sitting on a time-bomb, reliable sources from the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) said that a few years ago, fire fighters from Vasco’s fire station handled the fire breakout in municipal solid waste dumping site which went on for three days. A year and a half later, there was another fire at the dumping site, which they attended to for two days.
F&ES have sent their recommendations in writing to the MMC four years ago. In that, they have asked that access to the dumping site is kept and to install a hose reel along with underground water tank of 10000 litres as a reservoir at the dumping site, which could be immediately used to extinguish fire before it spreads elsewhere. “But we are unaware whether the recommendations were implemented or not”, added the source. Officials at the Vasco fire station added that they are well equipped to tackle fie breakdown issue in their jurisdiction and that they have two fire tenders and one rescue tender.
Chief Officer of MMC, Agnelo Fernandes said this may have been sent before his term and that he will write to F&ES, asking them to re-send their recommendations. He also assured that he will be the first person to comply any recommendations given by the fire and safety officials as preventive measures.
Meanwhile, a Quick Response Vehicle was handed over to Vasco Fire Station by former South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar under the MPLAD funds to attend fire breakout in the places with narrow access.
