Major fire breaks out at MC's main garbage dumpsite

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 16

A major fire broke out at the MC’s main garbage dumpsite near Kakka village on Saturday, leaving the residents of nearby areas to suffer due to smoke emanating from the burning waste.

The garbage had caught fire on Friday evening too but the officials claimed it was then controlled timely. On Saturday, a few fire tenders were rushed to the site after the fire broke out once again.

The Municipal Corporation has failed to ensure waste processing at the main garbage dump site spread in around 50 acres. It has done nothing to deal with legacy waste at the dump. It is said around 20 lakh MT of garbage has got collected at the dumpsite. Huge heaps of the garbage look like hills there.

The smoke emanating from the dump was causing irritation in the eyes and it was difficult to breathe near the burning waste. Davinder Singh of Kakka village said, “The people have already been suffering a lot due to foul smell emanating from the huge heaps of waste at the MC’s main garbage dump for a long period. The burning waste has increased our woes. The waste has been burning at the dump since last night. The civic body and administration must take the required steps to provide us some relief from the garbage dump.”

Health Officer, MC, Dr Vipul Malhotra said the fire was doused when it broke out on Friday evening. He said the fire broke out again on Saturday. Dr Malhotra said the fire occurred due to methane gas at the garbage dump.

An official at the Fire Services, Ludhiana, said three-four fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames.

Waste burning incidents took place in the past too at the garbage dumpsite, but the MC took no concrete steps to avoid such incidents.

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