Team Herald
PONDA: A sudden midnight fire at an illegal scrapyard recently sealed by the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) caused panic among residents of Warkhandem, Ponda. The quick response of the Ponda Fire Brigade prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. While the fire caused minor damage, some wood and furniture stored in the scrapyard were gutted.
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The scrapyard, located on PMC-owned land, was sealed after it was found operating illegally. Just last week, it was also involved in the production of maggot-infested onion and garlic paste, which was seized and destroyed by the Food and Drugs
Administration (FDA).
The fire has reignited calls for the immediate clearance of the sealed scrapyard. Residents are questioning whether the fire started accidentally or if it was deliberately set. The location of the scrapyard in a residential area has heightened concerns, given the potential risks posed to nearby buildings.
PMC Chairperson Anand Naik confirmed that three illegal scrapyards, including the one in Warkhandem, were sealed due to fire hazards. “The scrap owner has been instructed to vacate the premises immediately. Once cleared, the land will be taken over by PMC for development purposes,” Naik said.
Residents recalled a similar incident a few years ago when a massive fire at a scrapyard on the Dhavalim Highway disrupted traffic for two days. Since then, there has been a growing demand to remove all illegal scrapyards from Ponda to ensure public safety.
