Civic body to keep an eye on Dadu Majra dumping ground to check fire incidents

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 5

In the wake of repeated fire incidents being reported from the Dadu Majra-based waste dumping ground, the local Municipal Corporation has decided to keep tabs on the ground to check such incidents.

The civic body will keep an eye on people entering the dumping site. It has been observed that after puffing, ragpickers often throw "bidis" at the dumping ground, which at times cause fire.

"We will depute security guards to keep a watch. While methane (landfill gas) is one of the causes of such fires, ragpickers sometimes throw 'bidis' after puffing, which trigger fires," MC Commissioner KK Yadav told Chandigarh Tribune.

After the major fire incident reported from the dumping ground and the processing plant recently, area residents and leaders of the Congress and AAP had alleged that it was deliberately caused to reduce the huge mountain of garbage.

On this, the MC Commissioner said, "Methane in the garbage is one of the reasons behind such fires. It is usual. It happens in all waste dumping grounds."

After the incident, the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) had asked the MC to submit a report on the cause of the fire. The MC was also asked to take precautionary measures to avoid such incidents in the future.

However, Yadav said they had not yet received any communication in this regard, "maybe due to holidays in between". Dyal Krishan, a Dadu Majra resident and president of the Dumping Ground Joint Action Committee, said, "Security guards are already there. It will not make any difference. How will they check so many ragpickers and their own staff. They should first stop the entry of cattle and pigs there."

The fire had led to huge inconvenience to residents, especially those residing in and around Dadu Majra. Residents of Sector 38, 37, 25 and Dadu Majra had complained of smoke entering their houses. They complained of breathing problems and itching in their eyes due to the smoke. Almost half of the city saw thick smoke in the sky. Smoke continued to billow out for two to three days. There have been over 10 small and major fire incidents at the ground.

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