The landfill site at Bhalswa in northwest Delhi caught fire again on Saturday afternoon adding to the already high levels of pollution in the city. The landfill has allegedly rose 30 m above the permissible height.
According to a fire official, they were alerted around 1pm and six fire tenders were rushed to the spot. “It took us about six hours to douse the fire as it kept spreading. The reason behind the fire has not been ascertained so far,” he said.
An official from North Delhi Municipal Corporation said fire at the landfill usually breaks out due to excessive release of methane. “The site has crossed the permissible height by at least 30 meters as per the norms laid by the Environment Ministry. Garbage is dumped here on a daily basis because people don’t have any other option,” he said.
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The landfill caught fire on the same day as the NGT directed all civic bodies and DDA to post special forces at all landfill sites to ensure the prevention of fire there.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar said: “If any fire or waste burning is brought to the notice of the Tribunal, particularly in relation to the landfill sites, every officer in-charge concerned would be liable to be proceeded against in accordance with law.”