Bhalswa Landfill Fire: A Growing Cause Of Concern For Delhiites
New Delhi, 1 May 2022: The Bhalswa landfill site, in New Delhi, continues to emit smoke, after it broke out at the site on April 26, according to latest news reports. The rescue team has managed to control the fire to an extent, but some areas are still burning.
“First we have a landfill on a lake and then there is fire that just doesn’t get extinguished, due to its severity. My heart burns with agony. What have we brought upon ourselves? Save lake Bhalswa, Save Delhi,” said Dr Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Member of National Human Rights Commission on Twitter.
First, we have a landfill on a lake and then there is fire that just doesn’t get extinguished , due to its severity. My heart burns .. with agony . What have we brought upon ourselves .. ? Save lake Bhalswa .. Save Delhi !! pic.twitter.com/wYSGa4b1q5
— Dnyaneshwar Mulay (@navnirmiti) May 1, 2022
The North Municipal Corporation of Delhi has been called upon on May 4 to explain how it is preventing hazardous vapours from entering the homes of citizens living near the Bhalswa waste affecting women and children.
Environment Minister, Gopal Rai has charged a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Committee).
Delhi | Smoke continues to rise from the Bhalswa landfill site where a fire broke out on April 26 pic.twitter.com/DeyAbgU6ww
— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2022
Simultaneously, netizens have taken it to social media to criticize the government’s mismanagement and actions that led to the week-long fire at Bhalswa landfill. Nitin Mahalwal, BJP Karyakarta calls it a never-ending debate with none of the governments willing to take responsibility. “They just keep blaming others.”
Individuals have also opposed the Delhi Government for their incompetent management. One twitter user wrote, “This is a serious issue but Kejriwal is busy in Punjab and how to use its police.”
This is serious issue but Kejriwal is busy in Punjab and how to use its police.
— LG23India (@LG23India) May 1, 2022
Residents are also increasingly concerned about the effects of toxic gasses getting released into the atmosphere and its negative impact on the climate and human beings.
“We are living in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in slow motion,” said Rajiv Khurana, Founder Trustee, Lung Care NGO.
“Waste management is the biggest challenge in India. When unsegregated waste, that should ideally be composted, is put together, the waste pickers choose some waste that can be recycled, eg, plastic. But they do not choose single use plastic, it is the most dangerous part for the environment as it clogs the drainage system and hampers the rain water system as well,” said Khurana.
“In the landfills, churning of gases keeps on happening. In these gases, methane is released which is 21 times more dangerous that carbon dioxide and it catches fire leading to air pollution as well. This, thereby, affects the respiratory system, leads to Asthma and even affects the social interaction in the society to an extent,” he added.
Saurabh Gandhi, Secretary, United Residents of Delhi, “The air is full of ashes within 10 km radius of the incident. Making it difficult to breath and people are unable to go out of their homes in the near colonies such as Swaroop nagar, Jahangirpuri, Burari, Mukandpur. In fact these areas are under constant impact as the filthy smell and gases are bound to reach them.”
“People living in these areas are from lower-economic background, it affects their earning as they live on daily wages. At the same time, they will not be able to sustain from their homes due to financial and environmental reasons,” he added.
It has been estimated that about 1.7 million people die every year due to air pollutions while crores of people are temporarily affected in terms of eye irritation, breathing difficulty and so on.
