NEW DELHI: To prevent fires at landfills, Delhi government will study the gas sucking system, which is used in Mumbai, and replicate it in the capital, environment minister Gopal Rai said on Thursday. The minister announced this after chairing a joint meeting with experts from IIT Delhi, TERI, Centre for Science and Environment, IGL, GAIL, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and municipal corporations.
The meeting came a day after a massive fire broke out at the Ghazipur landfill, which was the third such incident since March 28 this year.
“The gas sucking system built at Mumbai’s dumping site was chosen after consultation with experts from all the departments concerned. Teams from DPCC and civic bodies have been given orders to travel to Mumbai to check on the working model of the system. Officials concerned have also been ordered to regularly inspect landfill sites in Delhi to avoid any fire outbreak,” said Rai.
“The biggest cause of fire at landfill sites is the continuous release of methane gas, which not only promotes fire incidents but is also harmful to the atmosphere. With the installation of this system, emission of methane gas from the waste can be regulated to an extent,” the minister explained.
He further added that “several other solutions such as installing gas wells, covering waste with soil, and sorting waste into six categories were also being considered.”
Rai said that teams from civic bodies and DPCC have been asked to keep a vigilant eye on any fires that break out at landfills. “These teams will not only monitor landfill sites on a regular basis but also work to avoid future fires,” said the minister.
Last year, four incidents of fire took place at the Ghazipur landfill. In 2017, a large part of it broke away, crashing onto a road and killing two people. Commissioned in 1984, the landfill site is spread across 70 acres.
