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In the less than two months, a third major fire has broken out at the 132-hectare Deonar dumping ground in suburban Mumbai, and the toxic smoke billowing from the dump is choking thousands of residents living in the vicinity.
On Monday morning, smoke from the flames that broke out over large parts of the dump drifted over the eastern suburbs of Mumbai, creating a haze.
The Deonar dump, in existence since 1927, is one of the biggest in Mumbai and the quantity of garbage ending up there has only increased over the years. The dump is surrounded by the Thane creek on three sides and slums on the fourth. Every day, some 3,000 tonne of waste is dumped on the ground; currently some 12 million tonnes of debris have got accumulated at the.
Origins of the fire are not known but is said to have on Sunday morning from an area close to the creek. By Monday evening, 70 fire-fighters had poured thousands of gallons of water to douse the flames.
Greater Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta said the administration suspects sabotage, therefore, an FIR has been filed against unknown persons. The Mumbai Police Commissioner’s help has also been sought.
He said IIT-Bombay and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) are being roped in to stabilise the mountains of garbage, which have formed at the dumping ground. IIT-Bombay has also been asked to create a system, which will help release methane from the garbage.
As a preventive measure 12 CCTV cameras have been placed and another 40 with night-vision capability would be soon installed. Tata Consulting Engineers have been asked to suggest long-term solutions.
The city administration will also declare the ground as a Prohibited Area, which will restrict movement of people in the grounds. The boundary wall of the dumping yard is being rebuilt on a war footing to prevent unauthorised entry of people.
On the issue of haze and pollution affecting business prospects and investor confidence, Mehta pointed to the the quick action by the administration.
But President of Small and Medium Business Development Chamber of India Chandrakant Salunkhe was not so sanguine. He said embassies and consulates are quite sensitive to such issues and some may even have sent travel advisories back home.
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