the goan I network
MARGAO
Fire engulfed Sonsodo site once again on Sunday, when tons of dry plastic waste dumped all around the landfill site caught fire with thick black smoke billowing from the site posing a health hazard to the neighbourhoold.
This is the third major fire incident at Sonsodo since May 25 last when fire had engulfed the site for around a week.
The firemen led by Divisional officer Nitin Raikar, Fire Officer Gill de Souza and around 20 fire personnel battled the fire for four-long hours, before bringing it under control only at around 9.30 pm.
The incident is believed to have occurred at around 5 pm, with the Margao fire brigade receiving a call around 5.15 pm when fire to dry grass fire a hilly land spread to the dry waste dumped at the Sosnodo site.
The Margao Municipal Council had dumped tons of
dry and plastic waste around the landfill site over the last few months for want of a full-fledged baling mechanism in place. While the dumping of the dry waste always posed a danger since it was dumped in the open, the fears came true on Sunday evening when the dry waste was engulfed by fire. Thick black smoke billowing from the site settled in the neighbourhood as people complained of plastic odour.
Fire Officer Gill de Souza informed that no sooner the Margao fire brigade received the call at around 5.15 pm, tenders were rushed to Sonsodo, with calls being sent to the fire brigades at Curchorem, Ponda and Verna requisitioning their fire tenders.
In the fire fighting operation that lasted for more than four hours, over 50,000 litres of water was used to bring the fire under control. As many as 20 fire men attached to the Margao, Ponda, Verna and Curchorem fire stations joined in the fire fighting operations.
Replying to a query, Gill said the fire was brought under control at around 9.30 pm. He, however, said the firemen were still continuing the operation to cap the smoke.
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Ajti Panchwadkar and Municipal engineers, who were coordinating the Shigmo float parade at the Ravindra Bhavan route rushed to the site to coordinate the operation with the agencies.
This is the third major fire that has engulfed the Sosnodo site since May last.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board has already slapped a penalty of Rs one crore on the Margao Municipal Council for causing damage to the environment on account of the May 25 fire incident.
