Locals living near the Bhalswa landfill site in Delhi said they are having trouble breathing and have continuously sought a permanent solution to the fire, which often lasts for several days. A fire broke out at the Bhalswa landfill site yesterday afternoon and plumes of smoke are rising from the site since today.
Earlier in April, thick plumes of smoke continued to rise from the site after the fire broke out on 26 April and firefighters struggled to douse the flames for six consecutive days.
A local resident “I have been living here for the last 20 years and have been observing this since then. There has been no change in this landfill. We are facing many problems like breathing and cough etc. We want a permanent solution to this. Huh.” Resident said.
Another local said, “The houses are barely a kilometer away from the site. Our eyes hurt, breathing becomes difficult and the heat also increases. Every year from April to June, there is a fire. There are diseases too. We want this landfill to be removed. From here.”
Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising in the sky during the fires in April, intensifying the already polluted air.
People living near the yard say that smoke enters their rooms during the fire, causing them to face various health problems.
“I have been here for the last 20 years. The Bhalswa dump area is very close to my house. When I open my window I see a landfill. We are having breathing problems, everyone is getting sick. Like malaria. Disease and dengue are spreading. At the time of fire, smoke rises in the house,” said another local.
Separately, the Delhi government has drawn up a nine-point action plan to prevent incidents of fire at landfill sites in the national capital.
Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Delhi Municipal Corporation officials have been asked to study a system installed in Mumbai to capture methane from rotting waste and replicate it in the national capital to prevent fires at landfill sites.
Wet waste dumped in landfills produces methane when it decomposes. In hot weather conditions, methane spontaneously catches fire and the flame spreads as it feeds on combustible materials such as textiles and plastics. As part of the action plan, perforated high-density polyethylene pipes will be installed at landfill sites to prevent the accumulation of highly flammable methane gas.
As per the Delhi government’s action plan, vehicles installed at landfill sites will be fitted with spark arresters to trap hot exhaust particles from combustion engines.
In addition, ban on rag pickers will be imposed and a four-metre-high boundary wall will be constructed to prevent unauthorized entry into landfills, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority will develop a standard operating procedure to prevent fire incidents.