Mumbai: A day after a fire broke out at Deonar dumping ground, firefighters on Tuesday used JCBs to turn over partially-combustive patches of garbage to ensure they pose no threat.
The blaze, the second at the dump in two years, was contained by Monday night. “Since the area is inaccessible, it was difficult to conduct a full-fledged operation. Besides, there are patches where there is incomplete combustion, causing a lot of smoke,” said a fire officer.
Fire officers and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have attributed the fire to the soaring temperatures. “Methane is created when garbage decomposes, and under extreme temperatures, it can self-ignite when it comes in contact with oxygen,” said a senior fire officer.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Vijay Singhal said they are taking steps to prevent a repeat of the incident. “We will be installing around 300 vent pipes, which will funnel the methane generated. Moreover, we have given strict instructions that a layer of mud should be put over the heap of garbage as a preventive measure.”
Activists call it a stop-gap arrangement. “Nearly, 3,000 tonnes of garbage and 1,000 tonnes of debris are dumped at Deonar every day. It is too much for a dumping ground of its size. I don’t understand why the civic body doesn’t realise the emergency,” said Rajkumar Sharma, coordinator, Action for Good Governance and Networking in India, an NGO.
Mr. Sharma said civic officials should undertake biomining, which involves segregating garbage that is already in Mulund and Deonar dumping grounds.
Saurabh Kumar, a resident of Govandi, said the air quality improved on Tuesday. “It was suffocating on Monday. The extreme heat made the situation worse as there was no breeze to take the smoke away,” he said.
