Ghazipur landfill collapses; two killed, five rescued
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 1
The collapse of towering mounds of garbage in east Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill site—killing at least two persons while five were rescued—after a car and several two-wheelers fell into the adjacent Kondli canal on Friday raises questions on the seriousness of the city agencies besides pointing at the continued threat to residents in nearby colonies.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visited the site and took stock of the situation. Kejriwal said the government will take up the matter with Lt Governor Anil Baijal to put pressure over taking measures towards safe waste disposal.
“Two people -- Raj Kumari (32) and Abhishek (22) -- were killed and five others were rescued. The five who were rescued were identified as Karan, Pankaj, Amit, Deepak and Ayub Ansari,” said a senior official.
Four fire tenders were initially rushed to the spot to help in rescue operations but later another 11 had to be pressed for the task, said Delhi Fire Service officials from the rescue team. There were 45 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) too at the site where rescue operations continued for several hours.
Kejriwal said the Delhi Pollution Control Committee had served notices to the municipal corporation about the disposal of garbage and the height of the landfill. The landfill site falls under the jurisdiction of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).
East Delhi mayor Neema Bhagat attributed the garbage collapse to the heavy downpour over the last two days in the city. The garbage swept away the vehicles into the canal resulting in the deaths.
The Delhi Chief Minister garbage was disposed of in a faulty manner noting there are many modern techniques available worldwide to dispose of garbage.
“Its height is also way above the permissible height of about 20 metres. I will talk to the Delhi LG on the issue for putting on the municipal corporation for safe garbage disposal,” Kejriwal told reporters at the spot.
North East Delhi MP and Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari sought a report from the EDMC mayor and asked the civic body to ensure proper relief for those injured. He said steps should be taken to develop alternative and additional landfill sites for Delhi and for the scientific disposal of garbage. “We must try to avoid stacking of garbage mountains,” he said.
On the incident, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal held the MCD responsible saying an FIR should be registered against it for the man-made disaster.
“Completely shameful. Who is responsible for the deaths? Fir should be filed against MCD fro this disaster. High time strict action is taken!”tweeted Swati. She also shared recent photo of landfill near Bhalsua dairy pointing at the toxic polluting fumes emanating from the garbage mound.
