A scrapyard at Mushirwada-Colvale was gutted in a fire in the early hours of Wednesday, causing damage worth around Rs 50,000. The owner suspects that the fire was started deliberately.
The fire broke out around 5 am. Workers at the yard tried to put it out, but it spread quickly through the scrap material, sending thick smoke over the area.
On receiving information, firefighters from the Mapusa Fire Station rushed to the spot and began efforts to control the blaze. As the fire was intense, a team from the Porvorim Fire Station was also called in for support.
Firefighters from both stations worked for about two to two-and-a-half hours to bring the fire under control. A JCB machine was also used during the operation.
Colvale Sarpanch Ritesh Warkhandkar visited the site to review the situation, while Colvale police carried out a panchnama. Scrap yard owner Shahbaz Shaikh has alleged that the fire may have been an act of sabotage.
It is worth noting that the Colvale Panchayat had demolished this scrapyard during an enforcement drive in 2021. However, the owner challenged the action, and the Directorate of Panchayats later stayed the demolition order. Around 50–60 scrapyard-related cases in Colvale have been pending in court for the past eight years.
