PONDA: The recent fire incident at a godown in Kavlem has caused panic among the locals who have demanded godowns storing plastic, scrap yards and manufacturing units in residential areas be shifted to the industrial areas.
Pradeep Bakhale, a local said, “These units are dangerous and should not be allowed to operate in residential areas.” The locals feel that storing such plastic or scrap is like a ticking time bomb, which may explode any moment.
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It may be recalled that for over a decade the locals at the gram sabha have been demanding strict action against the illegal scrapyards operating in the residential areas in Kavlem. Last year at the January gram sabha the locals had voiced their opposition to scrap yards, however following the recent massive fire incident, the residents are now demanding that the scrapyards be moved out of the residential areas.
It is pertinent to note that scrapyard demolition issue is pending in court.
It may be recalled that in a major fire incident reported at Dumre–Kavlem, plastic and other goods worth Rs 1 crore were gutted inside a godown located in a residential area on Sunday afternoon.
Plastic goods, stoves, household items and other material were destroyed in the fire, which broke out in the godown, housed in a ground plus two storey building owned by Virdharan Bishnoi.
The impact of the blaze was such that the building developed cracks and is on the verge of collapse. However, two workers were rescued by Kavlem residents, as the fire spread to a house located nearby. The fire personnel and locals managed to save the house from further damage.
The locals said several scrap yards are located near petrol pump which could prove dangerous. Besides this, the residents suspect anti-social activities are carried out in these scrapyards.
Sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar said, “The Panchayat did not give Bishnoi any permission to store plastic goods and other material in his bungalow and had even warned him.
The sarpanch during the gram sabha had said the scrap ards managed by locals have been rented out to migrants.
