THE Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association is calling for more security to be provided at the Vunato dump site.
This after a fire broke out on Sunday night at the dump site for rubbish delivered from Nadi and Lautoka.
Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association president Narend Reddy said there needed to be more security provided at the site.
“One of the issues is scavengers and apart from being allowed to go in and look for recycled items, we don’t know what else they could be doing at the site,” he said.
“There needs to be stronger security provided and a barrier built around the site.”
He said this was not the first time the site caught fire this year.
“By now the council should know how to handle a fire when it breaks out from the site.
“Do the council workers know what to do before firefighters arrive?”
He added that smoke from the fire caused a number of health issues.
“This is the third day and we are still seeing smoke from the dump site.
“We had people living right in Vuda who noticed the smoke from Vunato. “If it continues then it becomes a health issue because of the amount of toxic gas captured underneath all of that rubbish.
“I think it’s time that we look at a more permanent solution like providing more security, the need to monitor scavengers and finding an alternative dumping site.”
The incident was reported to police on Sunday by the Lautoka City Council.
LCC CEO Jone Nakauvadra had pleaded with members of the public not to start fire near the site. Meanwhile, investigations by police continue.
