Team Herald
PONDA: Khandepar villagers on Wednesday complained to the local Panchayat, Ponda Deputy Collector and the Health Department against illegal scrapyards operating at Curti for causing air pollution in the panchayat area by burning hazardous waste, plastic and wires.
The locals have demanded action by the panchayat against scrapyard operators.
According to complainant Sandeep Parkar, hazardous waste was burnt by scrap-yards on Tuesday night at around 10.30 pm.
Parkar said that a Khandepar local while returning home noticed huge smoke cloud on road making it difficult to see the oncoming traffic. On reaching the village, he informed the locals who rushed to the scrap-yard at Curti and questioned the owner about burning hazardous waste.
“However, the people at the scrapyard behaved arrogantly and dared the locals to file police complaint against them,” Parkar’s complaint reads as.
Parkar said, “Since last two years the locals are fighting against burning of hazardous waste and warned the scrapyards owners several times.”
“We have video recorded burning of hazardous waste and a complaint has been filed today with all the authorities, including the police. We have already passed a resolution in the gram sabha against illegal scrapyards which are nuisance to the locals. Even wires are burnt to collect copper from it. However, it is hazardous to health of the locals as stench spreads in residential area making it difficult for the people to breathe,” he said.
