Komaram Bheem Asifabad District / Kagaznagar: Scrap shops are mushrooming rapidly across Kagaznagar town, raising serious concerns among residents. As per norms, scrap yards are supposed to be located away from residential areas, but permissions appear to have been granted to operate them right in the middle of habitations. This has led to growing public outrage, with people questioning which official approved such violations.
In several colonies of the town, scrap yards have become a major nuisance. Residents are facing severe inconvenience in their daily movement due to congestion caused by scrap materials. Particularly alarming is a scrap yard functioning between two hostels, causing serious difficulties for students. Despite past incidents involving accidents, property damage, and even loss of life linked to scrap yards, operators continue to flout safety regulations.
Dozens of scrap shops have sprung up along the main road near the petrol pump area in Kagaznagar. Locals allege that these establishments are operating with the support and protection of certain officials, allowing illegal activities to continue unchecked. By setting up scrap yards in residential localities, operators are allegedly playing with the lives of the public.
Scrap yards deal in discarded machinery and materials such as plastic, rubber, copper, lead, brass, iron, and vehicle scrap. These materials are often dumped directly on roadsides, blocking traffic and posing safety hazards. Such illegal operations are also causing significant loss to government revenue.
Residents point out that basic fire safety measures such as firefighting equipment, water storage, sand buckets, and oxygen cylinders are completely absent in most scrap yards. Public criticism is mounting that the negligence of scrap yard owners could lead to major disasters at any time.
Many scrap shops are operating without name boards or proper identification, and inspections appear to be virtually non-existent. This lack of monitoring has given free rein to scrap mafia activities. Adding to public concern, stolen vehicles, government electrical equipment, and electronic machinery are allegedly being found in some scrap yards, raising questions about rising theft cases in the town.
Official Apathy Under Fire
Citizens are demanding that municipal authorities verify whether scrap shops operating along main roads, petrol pump areas, and inner streets actually possess valid permissions. Due to the apparent indifference of officials, heaps of scrap and waste are visible around these shops, creating unsanitary conditions.
Allegations are rife that some officials have developed illicit connections with scrap shop operators, resulting in a lack of enforcement. Residents claim there is no record of concrete action taken against rule-violating scrap yards so far. The public is now urging the concerned departments to immediately intervene, strictly enforce licensing and fire safety norms, issue notices to violators, and regulate scrap yards as per government guidelines before any untoward incidents occur.
