Scrap Mafia’s Deadly Shift: Booted from Dungra, Illegal Warehouses Resurface in Karvad; Is a Major Fire Disaster Waiting to Happen? (2026)

Vapi Illegal Scrap Warehouse Relocation Alert

The “Scrap Mafia” of Vapi has found a new backdoor. After a massive surgical strike by the Vapi Municipal Corporation (Vapi MC) cleared the Dungra area of hazardous storage units, these illegal operators have now infiltrated the interior lanes of Karvad. In a dangerous game of hide-and-seek with the law, over 15 new godowns have sprouted in residential pockets, stockpiling flammable waste right under the noses of the authorities. As of early 2026, Karvad is sitting on a “ticking time bomb” that threatens to repeat the fire tragedies of the past.

The Great Migration: From Dungra to Karvad

Eight months ago, Vapi MC Commissioner Yogesh Chaudhary and Administrator Bhavya Verma led an unprecedented crackdown in the Dungra-Dungri Faliya region.

• The Purge: More than 100 illegal godowns were bulldozed for operating in residential zones without GPCB (Gujarat Pollution Control Board) permits.
• The Reason: A string of fires within just four months had put thousands of lives at risk, forcing the administration to take extreme measures.
• The New Hub: To escape the city’s gaze, these operators have moved to Azad Nagar in Karvad, where they believe the remote location offers them a shield from the law.

New Tactics: How the Mafia is Hiding the “Deadly Cargo”

The scrap dealers have evolved their methods to avoid detection by flying squads:

1. Chawl Concealment: Scrap is no longer kept in open sheds but is hidden inside dilapidated houses and rental chawls, covered with tarpaulins to look like household storage.
2. Mobile Warehousing: In many parts of Karvad, large trucks and tempos are being used as “permanent storage” parked on private plots to avoid building-related legal actions.
3. Tin-Shed Encroachments: Overnight, tin sheds are popping up on agricultural land and interior fields, operating without any fire safety equipment or GPCB NOC.

A Recipe for Disaster: Why Karvad is at Risk

Local residents are living in constant fear, raising critical questions for the administration:

• The Access Nightmare: Unlike Dungra, the lanes of Karvad’s Azad Nagar are extremely narrow. If a fire breaks out, Fire Brigade tankers will find it nearly impossible to reach the spot in time.
• The Power Puzzle: How are these massive commercial scrap units obtaining high-load electricity connections in purely residential areas?
• Lack of Vigilance: Why has the local “Gram” or “Municipal” monitoring system failed to notice the sudden influx of 15+ warehouses in a single neighborhood?

Comparison of the Scrap Crisis

The Call for Action

The people of Karvad are demanding a “Dungra-style” surgical strike before a spark turns their neighborhood into an inferno. With the summer months approaching, the dry plastic and chemical-laced scrap pose a double threat. The Vapi Municipal Corporation must act now to dismantle these shadow operations before Karvad pays the price for Dungra’s cleanup.

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