NEW DELHI: In light of increasing fire cases, environment minister Gopal Rai on Thursday inspected Bhalswa landfill site in north Delhi to assess the situation. He said a nine-point action plan was being chalked out to reduce such fires.
The action plan is based on the report of a four-member team which had members from Delhi Pollution Control Committee and east and north corporations after their visit to Mumbai’s dumping sites in Gorai and Deonar on May 5 and 6.
The nine-point action plan includes installation of high-density polyethylene pipes, deputation of a Delhi Police team, MCD staff and security guards to prevent unauthorised entry of ragpickers, construction of a 4m RCC boundary wall, a periphery road for easy transport, preparation of on-spot emergency plan to control fires in collaboration with DDMA, deployment of suction-cum-jetting machines, construction of a 50,000-litre underground water reservoir, installing spark arresters in vehicles, among other developments. The standard operating procedures would be prepared by MCD in collaboration with DDMA.
The minister said, “Delhi government is concerned about incidents of fires breaking out at landfills and is working actively and tirelessly to curb the possibility of such tragic incidents in the future. Based on the report submitted by the team, orders have been issued to MCD to work in accordance with this nine-point action plan. Such incidents not only contribute to Delhi’s pollution problem, but also endanger the health of residents.”
“ The environment ministry has also issued orders to use Mumbai’s gas sucking mechanism as a permanent solution to regulate methane emissions,” added Rai.
