Team Herald
PONDA: A scrapyard near the bypass road in Ponda has been sealed after more than 100 cans of ginger garlic paste, infested with worms and maggots, were found alongside large packets of fried onions. The labels on the cans indicated that the products were well past their expiry dates.
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Following a formal complaint, the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) took immediate action and sealed the scrapyard. Inside the premises, nearly 100 cans of ginger garlic paste, packaged in large transparent PET bottles, and fried onions commonly used in Biryani preparation were discovered.
A team, led by PMC Chairperson Anand Naik, visited the scrapyard located near the Warkhandem underpass in Ponda. To their shock, the team realised that the contaminated paste was being sold to roadside food vendors and Biryani outlets throughout Ponda town. As a result, the Chairperson ordered the immediate sealing of the scrapyard and filed a complaint with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), urging them to investigate local food stalls for hygiene compliance.
While the PMC has received praise for its prompt action, local residents have voiced concerns that they had raised similar issues regarding illegal scrapyards operating in open spaces on numerous occasions.
PMC Chief Officer Yogiraj Gosavi explained that show-cause notices had already been sent to several scrapyard operators, instructing them to relocate their businesses to industrial estates and clear the residential areas. “There have been complaints from residents about fire and health hazards caused by these scrapyards in residential zones. Notices have been sent, and today (Tuesday), we sealed this particular scrapyard,” Gosavi stated.
According to Gosavi, there are four more illegal scrapyards operating in open spaces at Warkhandem.
The PMC Chairperson, Naik, stressed the importance of food safety in the wake of this discovery. “Many people eat at roadside food stalls, and if food containing these contaminated ingredients is being served, it could lead to serious health issues,” he warned.
Locals have called on the FDA to ensure that all street food vendors maintain high standards of hygiene and food safety to protect public health.
