MYSURU: A major fire raged at the garbage treatment plant at Kesare on the outskirts of Mysuru early on Monday morning, letting out thick plumes of smoke in the area.
A fire tender from Bannimantap fire station was despatched to douse the fire around 6.30 pm. A total of ten fire safety personnel and two officials managed to douse the fire in an operation that stretched to four hours, said a fire safety and emergency services personnel.
A waste segregation machine and an electricity panel board were among the items that were burnt in the fire along with plastic and other accumulated waste.
Meanwhile, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) officials, who rushed to the spot, were detained and gheraoed by the locals. Senior officials of MCC including Health Officer, Assistant Executive Engineer, Environmental Officer and the driver were detained by the angry locals.
The locals, who complained that the residents were facing health problems due to the waste management centre, alleged that negligence by the authorities had led to the fire and demanded closure of the centre till a health check-up of all the residents in the nearby areas was conducted.
Meanwhile, MCC officials did not rule out the possibility fire being intentional and said the waste segregation machine that was damaged in the fire is estimated to cost around ₹ 50 lakh.
It may be mentioned here that the Upa Lokayukta K N Phaneendra had visited the Solid Waste Management Centre at Kesare last Friday to take stock of the situation.
