VASCO
A garbage dump at a site belonging to the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) at Sada caught fire on Tuesday night.
The large blaze was immediately doused after three fire tenders, one each from Vasco Fire station, Mormugao Port Authority and Goa Shipyard Limited reached the site.
MMC Chairperson Leo Rodrigues and Councillor Damodar Naik rushed to the site upon being informed by locals about the fire incident.
Social activists and locals however alleged that the fire incident was caused due to blatant negligence by the MMC despite several complains made by the locals.
Speaking to media, activist Jayesh Shetgaonkar said that smoke and fumes had been rising from the dump over the last few days.
“We see regular smoke from the area almost on a daily basis but the MMC seems to be casual about it. The place caught fire today and the fire could be seen from very far. It was only because the fire tenders reached the site on time, that the fire was doused but we feel that the place will catch fire again. MLA Sankalp Amonkar also has done nothing about this situation that poses dangers to the lives of locals in the area. The fire caused here is due to pure negligence by the MMC,” said Shetgaonkar
Meanwhile, Chairperson Rodrigues said that the fire may have been caused due to a heat wave
“We had done a procedure of tapping the garbage dump the last time we had a fire incident and probably this causes methane formation that led to the fire. We have now placed a tender and works to clear this tapping will begin in a few days and this will resolve this issue of fire at garbage dumping site belonging to MMC,” said Rodrigues.
