Merces locals mark 1 year since scrapyard blast at Bamon Bhatt

Locals of Bamon Bhatt in Merces marked first anniversary of the blast in a scrapyard which led to the leakage of chlorine gas and affecting over 60 residents in the area.

The locals marked the occasion as a black day in front of the Merces panchayat, on Monday by cutting a black cake to signify the inefficiency of the authorities concerned, including Merces panchayat, in completely shutting down the scrapyard.

Speaking on the occasion, a local Tanoj Adwalpalkar highlighted that it was on June 27 last year that the blast occurred at the scrapyard resulting in leakage of Chlorine gas but till date no concrete action has been forthcoming from authorities to shut it down.

"Though the scrapyard was sealed, the owner continues to operate the same clandestinely and we have video evidence of the same, which we had shown to the panchayat authorities at the recently held gram sabha," Adwalpalkar stated.

"So what is the point in sealing the scrapyard if the owner is allowed to operate clandestinely," asked Adwalpalkar and demanded that the Merces panchayat ensure that the scrapyard is shut.

Another local, Edwin Vaz, said the people in the area are still feeling unsafe due to the defiance by the scrapyard owner.

"We have knocked the door of every authority including the Collector, Mamlatdar, Pollution Control Board, Old Goa police and others but everybody points the fingers at the Merces panchayat as they say they are the authority to act against illegal scrapyards," Vaz opined.

Viren Verenkar said that he had been complaining about the illegal scrapyard in Bamon Bhatt since 2022 but still justice has eluded.

"Now, after the blast occurred a year has passed and no concrete action has been taken against the scrapyard which shows how powerful the scrapyard owner is. Therefore we have organised this first anniversary of the incident as a mark of protest," Verenkar added.