PONDA: In the wake of a devastating fire that engulfed an illegal scrapyard operating along the National Highway in Dhavali, Ponda, recently, concerned locals gathered in a special gram sabha and demanded that the government take immediate action to clear all illegal scrapyards in Dhavali.
As the monsoon season looms, residents in the area are growing increasingly worried about the potential health hazards posed by the remnants of the burnt scrapyard, which may contribute to the spread of diseases like malaria during the rainy season.
The sight of empty barrels and the remains of scrapyard structures, exposed in open land with charred shed roofs, poses a risk of storing rainwater and becoming breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes. Earlier, the Ponda Mamlatdar had expressed similar concerns in his report to the Deputy Collector following the fire incident at the scrapyard.
It has been revealed that several scrapyards are operating with just one provisional No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the panchayat, lacking other essential permissions required for such businesses.
In the past, the Kavlem panchayat issued demolition orders for eleven scrapyard structures, a decision that was challenged in the Directorate of Panchayats, where the Panchayat emerged victorious.
The case was subsequently challenged in the District Court, where again the ruling favoured the Panchayat.
However, it was further appealed in the High Court, and last year, a stay was granted. In light of the recent major fire incident at one of the scrapyards, the Panchayat’s advocate, Surel Tilve, stated that they would now request urgent hearings on the issue from the High Court.
