Coimbatore Corporation has decided to investigate the fire accident that took place at its dump yard in Vellalore on Tuesday night.
According to sources, the reasons offered — leakage of methane — was unacceptable because at this season it was impossible for methane to trigger the fire but nevertheless the civic body would have the accident investigated.
It had asked the Station Fire Officer, Coimbatore South Fire Station, for an investigation and report.
Once it got the report, the civic body would lodged a complaint with Podanur Police, if the Fire Officer’s report suggested unnatural causes.
The sources said that the corporation would also look at issues of effectiveness and readiness of water hydrants and closed circuit television cameras, which it had installed after a major fire accident more than a year ago.
Sources in the Fire and Rescue Services said that the department was get to get a formal request for investigation from the corporation.
If it did, the department would conduct investigation and submit a report.
Representatives of the Coimbatore Integrated Waste Management Company Private Limited said that fire trigged by methane gas that got generated from the decaying garbage spread wide and far as it was aided by strong winds. The fire broke out in that portion of the waste that had been there for over 30 years and kept ready for capping. The residents of the area said that the Tuesday’s fire accident like any other had polluted the air.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials should inspect the site and ull up the officers concerned in the corporation, said K.S. Mohan, Secretary, Kurichi-Vellalore Pollution Prevention Action Committee.
