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Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660
Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/
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Scrap yards come under Fire Services scanner
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After the major fire on May 2, in scrap yard at Karaswada Mapusa,
the Directorate of Fire and Emergency has issued instructions to
all its fire stations to identify scrap yards.The officers have also
been asked to gather data on type of scrap, scrap dealers piling
at their yards.
Dr P K John, director of Fire and Emergency Services informed
Herald on Friday that Station Fire officers have given direction to
collect data about existing scrape yards in the State so that
owners are made to take precautionary measures against fire.
As of now it is not known how many scrap yards exists in the State,
however, a senior officer in the department said there should be
about 50 big scrap yards of which mostly are located in Karaswada
-Mapusa, area which is now known as scrap waddo.
The scrap has to be piled systematically -- plastic, paper, wood
and chemical gallons, has to be segregated and piled separately,
leaving a distance of two-three meters between each pile.Most
importantly, plastic gallons used for storing chemicals and
inflammable have to be stocked separately from other plastic
drums. If dumped together they have to be washed off their
chemical contents, says an officer.
Hardly any scrap yard in the State follows any such rules,
leave alone following the rules or having fire safety measures,
some scrap yards operate without any legal permission, says
the officer.
Not surprisingly, fire in scrap yard at Karaswada aggravated
within a matter of short time. Paper, wood, plastic, oil drums
everything was placed together thus fire spread widely within
few minutes, said an official, who was part of the fire tendering
team at Karaswada.
Any place which expect fire emergency has to obtain certificate
from Fire Service department but shockingly just a few of scrap
dealers at Vasco have so far obtained certificate from Fire Services.
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HERALD 4/05/05 page 1
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GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE
Documentation + Education + Solidarity
11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507
Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
website: www.goadesc.org
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Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy
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