Goemkarponn
MORMUGAO: A huge fire engulfed the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) garbage dumping site at Sada on late Wednesday night.
The fire was so huge that it spread across the huge area that had all garbage including dry waste including paper and plastic as well.
Sources claimed that the incident happened at around 10 am but ironically the incident was reported and a call went to the MPT Fire department after an hour at around 11 o clock.
The fire was so huge and the huge gush of wind escalated the scale of the inferno on the Garbage dumping site on the hill top to such an extent that it could be seen from far away locations like Baina as well.
Thick clouds of smoke emerged as the fire spread across the entire garbage dumping site and while many claimed that there was a deliberate attempt to set the garbage on fire, the fire officials said that it could take as many as 4 days to completely douse the fire.
Fortunately there was no loss of life or injuries reported in the incident.
“This fire is so huge that it will be very difficult to control and MPT ans Vasco fire tenders are trying out best to douse the fire . The wind is creating a problem and we don’t have JCBs to clear the fire besides which the compound wall has a huge height and we cannot spray from the opposite directions. There are also electrical lines above the compound wall making our task very difficult. This looks like a mischief and will take a minimum of three to four days to bring the fire under control” said a fire fighter.
TMC Leader Jayesh Shetgaonkar criticised the BJP Government for the mismanagement.
“MMC staff nor the contractor is not on site and we feel that this has been deliberately done to get rid of the garbage and clear the area. The Mollases Tank, IMC Tanks are in close proximity of this area and the fire can spread there and the contractor needs to be arrested for endangering the lives of people. Nor the MMC mor the MLA has arrived on site and this problem will remain as long as there is no segregation. The entire Goa has sonsodo type heaps of garbage at different locations and this is one of the BJPs biggest achievement.” Said Shetgaonkar
Meanwhile Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar arrived at the site later and assured to have an enquiry in the incident .
MMC Chairperson Leo Rodrigues and other councillors also arrived at the site upon getting the news of the fire.
“This is a shocking incident to see such a huge fire and this is not the first time that we have seen fire but never as big as this. We need to know the exact reason behind the fire and there is no point in blane game. I have got information that there could be foul play in the incident because the fire has spread uniformly. Fortunately the wind is flowing towards the sea or else people in the nearby hospital and residential areas would be choked. I have spoken to the police ,MMC Chief officer and Chairperson and i have asked the MMC to have a joint meeting to find the reason and also file a formal complaint and lodge an FIR for a free and fair investigation in the incident. ” Said Amonkar
MMC Chairperson Leo Rodrigues also said that it was for the first time that thete had been such a huge fire.
” The MLA has told us to find the exact reason and also call for a meeting. We will also file a police complain to enquire in the incident after having a joint meeting ” said Rodrigues
