With summer heat intensifying in Ludhiana, incidents of fire in vacant plots have started surfacing, raising concerns among residents over the lack of maintenance of such sites. A fire broke out in a vacant plot near Aarti Chowk on Tuesday afternoon, creating panic in the area.
According to local residents, dry grass, shrubs and heaps of garbage lying on the plot caught fire due to the scorching heat. Thick smoke engulfed the surrounding area, causing inconvenience to commuters and nearby shopkeepers. Residents informed the fire brigade, following which fire tenders reached the scene and controlled the blaze before it could spread further.
People staying in the locality said vacant plots across the city had become dumping grounds for waste, dry leaves and other inflammable material. During summers, such material catches fire easily, posing a threat to nearby houses, commercial establishments and parked vehicles.
Residents demanded that the Municipal Corporation should identify owners of the vacant plots and issue notices to them for proper cleaning and maintenance of their properties. They said many owners leave their plots unattended for years, allowing wild vegetation and garbage to accumulate, which increases chances of fire incidents during hot weather conditions.
The residents also urged the MC authorities to conduct regular inspections and impose penalties on owners who fail to maintain cleanliness on their plots.
Meanwhile, Fire Department officials appealed to the residents not to throw burning waste, cigarette butts or inflammable material in open plots. They said people should report any fire incident fast to avoid loss of life and property.
Neeraj Jain, Zonal Commissioner, MC, said: “We will appeal to the owners to maintain their vacant plots as wild grass leads to fire in such places. We will run a campaign for the same also”.