The controversy sparked by the fires at the Bhalswa landfill site may have died out, but the blaze still rages on. The Delhi government had commissioned a probe into the frequent fires at the landfill in April, when the odd-even programme was on. Transport Minister Gopal Rai had said that the fires appeared to be a “conspiracy” to sabotage the car rationing scheme, hinting at the BJP-ruled North Corporation.
Inquiry panel
However, an inquiry committee set up by the Minister wrote in its report on April 28 that it was the methane generated by the garbage and “unknown human errors” that had caused the fires. The landfill, which was set up in 1994, has risen well above its capacity, with the height of the dump reaching 40 metres. The civic body blamed lack of an alternate space for the overuse of the site, which leads to garbage catching fire.
Over a month later, nothing seems to have changed. On Wednesday, smoke could be seen billowing out from several flames in the landfill. Residential areas in Bhalswa and nearby Jahangirpuri continue to face toxic fumes emanating from the garbage dump.
Waste-to-energy plant
Dr. Sanjeev Nayyar, the Mayor of North Delhi, said there really wasn’t much the civic body could do in the short-term to control the fires, but a permanent solution to the problem was nearing fruition. A waste-to-energy plant at Narela-Bawana would be commissioned soon. This plant will use up to 1,300 metric tonnes of garbage a day to produce 24 megawatts of power.
“We have started the trial run of the plant and within a month it should get commissioned. Once it starts, no more garbage will be dumped at Bhalswa, and this will help in controlling the fires,” said Dr. Nayyar.
He added that the garbage at the Narela-Bawana waste processing site and the Bhalswa landfill site, a total of 3,100 metric tonnes per day, will be used at the plant.
“We will see if the Narela-Bawana plant does well and will consider setting up another plant to increase the capacity of our waste processing,” he said.
