New Delhi, Apr 22 (PTI) Thick plumes of smoke continued to rise at the Ghazipur landfill site even over 24 hours after a fire broke out there, leaving the locals gasping for breath and triggering a political blame game with the BJP accusing the AAP-led MCD of “criminal negligence” in the matter.
The Delhi government on Monday directed its environment department to submit a detailed report on the causes of fire at the site and the action plan to prevent similar incidents at such sites in the summer.
The fire broke out at the landfill site in east Delhi on Sunday evening. Officials cited hot and dry weather conditions as the likely trigger for the fire. Four Delhi Fire Service tenders were working at the site as thick plumes of smoke continued to rise.
Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons over the matter.
According to the police, a case under IPC sections 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 278 (making atmosphere noxious to health) has been registered at Ghazipur Police Station and a probe has begun.
Mayor Shelly Oberoi said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will launch an inquiry into the incident.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva alleged that AAP-led MCD’s “criminal negligence” is responsible for the fire even as Oberoi, who also visited the site, said this is not the time for politics.
Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely also stressed on casting aside petty politics and said all stakeholders should join hands to douse the landfill fire as it has been causing serious air pollution and health problems for the people.
In an order issued earlier in the day, Delhi Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai directed the principal secretary of environment and forests to submit the report behind the causes of the fire within 48 hours.
Rai, who holds the environment portfolio, directed the principal secretary that the report should cover all aspects related to the cause of the fire and immediate steps taken by various agencies to counter it.
“During the previous years, such fire incidents were also reported. After visiting the sites, I have issued various directions to prevent such incidents in future.
“Subsequently, the department issued some guidelines to various agencies responsible for preventing and combating such incidents. A report be collected from all concerned regarding the compliance of such guidelines by all concerned agencies,” the order said.
It also sought details on the action plan of the department to prevent such incidents at all landfill sites in Delhi during the summer.
Earlier in the day, Ram Kumar from Gharoli village which is close to the landfill site, said, “It has been 15 hours since the fire broke out. This is not any common smoke, it is very poisonous. We are unable to keep our eyes open due to irritation and are experiencing difficulty in breathing.” Several locals told PTI that due to the smoke, they were not able to send their children to school. They accused the MCD and the city government of not taking any action to ensure a better life for them.
“It has been 15 years. Ministers visit us only during elections. But after that not a single one returns to know if we are facing any problem. This landfill is a curse for us. We are forced to suffer foul smells every day. And now this fire has caused several health problems for us. Why do they (ministers) want us to die?” Ilyas Khan said.
Rakesh Kumar, a patient with cardiac ailments, said he had to move to his relative’s place because he could not bear the suffocation any longer. “It is not just me, several people are leaving their houses due to the same reason,” he said.
Bilkis, another resident, said the landfill still sits where it does because politicians never fulfilled their promises. “Now they will be here again, showing their concern just to take votes. Nothing will happen,” she said.
Mehfuz said when he purchased a house in the area around 20 years ago, the landfill wasn’t this high. “Why is the government not able to find any proper solution? We are even unable to send our children to school due to smoke,” he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had, ahead of the 2022 MCD election, promised to clear the landfill site by December 31, 2023.
In 2019, the height of the Ghazipur landfill was 65 metres, only eight metres less than the Qutub Minar. In 2017, a portion of the garbage at the dumping yard fell on an adjacent road, killing two people.
Three incidents of fire were reported at the Ghazipur landfill in 2022, one of which, on March 28, took more than 50 hours to be doused. PTI BM ALK VIT SJJ NIT SLB SLB NSD NSD
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