Reported by The Times of India
Surat: Three fires in less than a year at Surat’s Khajod dumping site have once again brought the spotlight on the mounting plastic waste and alleged lapses in its disposal.
A massive blaze broke out at the site on Sunday, sending towering plumes of black smoke into the sky, just a stone’s throw from the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB). The latest incident comes despite the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) issuing a notice to the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) in April over frequent fires at the dumping ground.
The fire, which broke out around 6.45am, engulfed heaps of highly inflammable plastic waste generated from the hotfix process used to attach rhinestones to fabrics. It took 35 firemen, seven fire tenders and more than 3 lakh litres of water to bring the blaze under control by 1pm.
The Feb and March fires at the same location had already raised concerns among diamond industry representatives over the proximity of the dumping site to SDB. Sunday’s incident has renewed their demand for shifting the waste facility.
More from the newsroom
Surat couple arrested at Ahmedabad airport with 13kg of marijuana
Last-minute Diwali shopping picks up across Gujarat: Markets remain crowded on Sunday as shoppers continue purchases despite traffic jams
Gold and silver worth crores purchased on Ravi Pushya Nakshatra: Drop in prices over 3 days draws shoppers ahead of Dhanteras for auspicious purchases
