Nagpur: A major fire broke out at an open plot in Najaf Colony recently, exposing garbage dumping in the open and civic apathy. Once a clean land parcel, the plot has steadily turned into a dumping ground, primarily due to indiscriminate disposal of waste.The Times of India visited the spot to gauge the extent of the negligence. Pruned branches, plastic bags, construction debris, and dry waste were scattered across the plot. A man was seen throwing freshly cut branches from his lemon tree into the heap, while nearby, chunks of debris from an under-construction building were being dumped openly. A local resident who witnessed the fire said the flames quickly grew over 10 feet tall. Panicked residents rushed to the spot with water-filled buckets and garden hoses to douse the flames. A generator is installed at a spot close to where the fire started. “Had the flames reached the generator, the situation could have turned dangerous,” the resident said.The fire brigade rushed to the spot on being informed and doused the blaze before it could spread further. No injuries were reported, but the incident served as a wake-up call about the dangers of unchecked littering and illegal dumping.The plot is located a short distance away from an NMC-designated garbage black spot, another area grappling with improper waste disposal issues. The proximity of two unmanaged garbage sites has raised concerns among citizens and civic activists, who now demand immediate action and stricter enforcement.Speaking to TOI, Gajendra Mahalle, chief sanitary officer of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), said, “I am not aware of a fire in Najaf Colony specifically, but there is regular door-to-door collection at Mankapur. Usually open plots turn filthy due to accumulation of dry leaves or illegal dumping.” Mahale added that NMC issues notices to owners of open plots, granting them eight days to clear the waste. “If they fail to comply, we clean it ourselves and levy a fine. If the fine is not paid, we file an FIR,” the official said.While the fire didn’t cause major damage, residents said the fire has reignited discussions around the need for better waste management, stronger civic engagement, and stricter monitoring to prevent future disasters.
