OPEN HOUSE: What steps should the MC take to control repeated fires at Dadu Majra dump?

Repeated fires at the Dadu Majra dump were caused by toxic gases emanating from the waste. The city should fulfil all conditions of the Swachh Bharat Swarekshan. There should be a proper handling of legacy waste and an ETP plant for taking care of leachate with a proper capacity. It should be made sure that only dry waste reaches the dump and wet waste is handled in each sector by allotting sites for composting. Attention must be given to that combustible, toxic waste and medical garbage do not reach the dump. surprise inspections need to be carried out at the dump. Experts’ suggestions which are practical, holistic and inexpensive should be taken into consideration.

Samita Kaur, Chandigarh

Authorities need to be more proactive

It is ironical that the dumping ground has been the subject of discussions at various levels but no concrete measures have been taken by the municipal authorities to mitigate the sufferings of the people residing in the vicinity of the dump. Since fire incidents increase in the peak summer, the authorities need to act in a proactive manner. The Administration needs a multi-pronged strategy to deal with the problem.

Dr Dinesh Kumar Verma, Panchkula

Ban smoking around dumping ground

To prevent frequent fires in the dumping ground, the MC should take steps to process the garbage before dumping, i.e. turning waste into compost. Sometimes a fire starts due to a carelessly thrown cigarette or “bidi” butts. Smoking should be forbidden near the dumping ground. Install sprinklers at the dump to douse a small fire before it turns into a blaze. The MC staff should ensure that vagrants or drug addicts do not gather there and cause a fire.

Bubby Soin, Chandigarh

Ensure complete ban on single-use plastic

As we all know segregation is the most effective way to tackle the waste menace. All wet waste should go into a landfill to be turned into manure that should be distributed to farmers in order to encourage organic farming. The dry waste of plastic needs to be recycled in the form of eco-bricks that can be used in making public toilets or benches in parks or even walls. Plastic is also used in the construction of roads. There should be a complete ban of the single-use plastic.

Shweta Mehra, Chandigarh

Take expert advice from companies

The municipal authorities should try to clear the legacy solid waste at Dadu Majra at a fast pace. The dump has become a health hazard for the people living nearby due to frequent fires. The municipal authorities can seek expert advice from firms based in Bangalore to overcome the problem. Additional manpower would come in handy.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

Avoid waste dumps near residential area

Frequent fires at the Dadu Majra dump not only cause pollution but also lead to breathing problems among residents of nearby areas. Till the waste dump is shifted, the authorities concerned should sprinkle water over the dump regularly during summer by engaging fire brigade. The help of the IAF may also be taken in this regard.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

Take the assistance of experts from IITs

There is an immediate need for an action-based team to handle this crisis. The MC can take the help of IIT experts in solid waste management. It should seek an expert report from an IIT to check emissions at the Dadu Majra dump. Suggestions should be invited from RWAs on how to avert fires at the dump.

Sunny Dhaliwal, Chandigarh

Stop dumping of waste in the open

Adopt the latest technology for waste treatment and convert the solid waste into manure. The dumping of waste in the open be stopped immediately. Set up water hydrants and a tubewell near the dumping ground till the MC finds a better way to deal with this mountain of waste. A new garbage-treatment plant be set up at the earliest and if possible, the dumping ground be shifted away from city. Make Chandigarh a “Smart City” in real sense.

Harminder Singh Dhanoa, Chandigarh

Hire more staff to segregate waste

Segregation of waste that catches fire, including plastic, e-waste, medical waste and paper, is required to be done more precisely by the MC staff. Instead of collecting them at one place, arrangements should be done to utilise or recycle them promptly so that no such waste reaches the dumping ground. The Municipal Corporation should hire additional staff to ensure full segregation of waste.

Krishan Yadav, Chandigarh

Proper disposal of waste need of the hour

The Dadu Majra dump should be shifted to some place far away from human settlements. For the time being, the Administration must not allow garbage to further pile up at the dump. A proper disposal of waste is the need of the hour. The dry waste must be dumped in such a way that it does not catch fire easily. The dump be levelled from time to time. The problem will aggravate in peak summer, so timely arrangements to prevent fires should be made.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

Top officials of UT should step in

Fires have been occurring at the Dadu Majra dump for many years but no remedial measures are taken by the authorities concerned. The top officials of the Chandigarh Administration should step in and try to address the problems faced the local residents. The machinery has to be upgraded to process the daily waste produced by UT, so that there is no garbage left in the dumping ground. More fire are likely to occur as temperatures rise in the peak summer.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

Increase bio-mining capacity

There is a lack of preparedness on the part of the MC. Experts say it was due methane emissions that prolong fire at the dump. To prevent repeated fires, there is a need to increase the bio-mining capacity at the dump. The firefighting system also needs to be improved. Enough sand should be kept near the dump to douse flames. Above all, cooperation from people and full coordination among various agencies will help a lot in overcoming the problem.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

Install hi-tech cameras, hire guards

It is quite possible that fires were caused intentionally to reduce the garbage pile or rag-pickers had set waste on fire to find metal and other things. The contract should be given to some more companies. Hi-tech cameras should be installed and guard hired to keep a vigil in the area.

Sukhwant Bhullar, Chandigarh

Authorities need to take an urgent call

The unprecedented uptick in the fire incidents that stands at an astronomical 500 since 2005 is a matter of serious concern. The MC needs to shun tokenism and come out with a lasting solution to this nagging problem affecting the health of the people living close to the dump. Both the Administration and the elected representatives need to go into a huddle and work out a viable solution to put an end to the problem, sooner than later.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

Take the help of neighbouring cities

The authorities concerned must make arrangements with the neighbouring cities or states to process the city’s garbage on a daily basis until a new plant is commissioned. Sprinklers should be installed on the mountain of garbage to prevent methane emissions which prolong fires at the dump.

Suresh Verma, Chandigarh

Equip guards with firefighting gear

There is no foolproof system to monitor fires at the Dadu Majra dump. To control fires in the initial stage, CCTV cameras should be installed and security guards equipped with firefighting gear. However, a permanent solution will be get rid of the dump. The Administration and the city MP should chip in more funds to solve the problem as Chandigarh is the capital of two states and earns a huge revenue.

Col Balbir Singh Mathauda, Chandigarh

Effective landfill management needed

It is necessary to study these fires and their effects on human health. An effective landfill management by the MC and operators is required to prevent these harmful fires. It calls for the need to construct a well-engineered municipal solid waste landfill that is regulated under strict regulations of the Centre and states.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Shift the dump outside the city

Waste dumped at Dadu Majra needs to be processed timely. It is a laxity on the part of the Chandigarh Administration that it is not doing anything to process the garbage timely. The heaps of garbage not only stink but also pollute the air whenever there is a fire. The dump should be moved away from the city so that no health problems are faced by people. Meanwhile, a wall should be constructed to prevent fire incidents.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Procure new machinery

The best way out of a difficulty is to wade through it. Good suggestions should be taken from experts without the hesitation of removing the dump. The authorities should not waste time and immediately float tenders for procuring new machinery. People should be motivated to prepare manure from dry leaves. The authorities should be determined to remove the dump soon in the interest of good health of residents.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Impose ban on burning of waste

The Municipal Corporation should have upgraded the waste-processing plant to clear the dump. There should be a ban on the burning of waste. The ban on the use of polythene bags should be strictly implemented. Recycled materials should be used by all residents of the UT. Everyone should follow the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle waste. Compositing technique can be adopted by all households. This will reduce waste, generate employment and check pollution to some extent.

Adish Sood, Amloh

Have separate dumps

The Administration should have separate dumping grounds for East, West, North and southern sectors. It should procure four plants to process garbage at the four locations simultaneously to avoid the piling up of waste. Residents can complain about non-processing of garbage at their respective locations and also about smell emanating from the garbage.

Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh

Methane emissions to blame for fires

Owing to negligence on the part of the MC, Dadu Majra and adjacent areas are turning into a junk yard. The authorities must shift the dump away from the residential area. Fire engines must be stationed at the spot until there is no smoke in smouldering waste. The emission of methane gas from the unprocessed waste is the real cause of frequent fires at the dump.

Anita K Tandon, Kharar

Ensure segregation of waste at home

Generally, you cannot undo what you have done, but the waste mountain at Dadu Majra needs to be undone by not adding more trash to it. Segregation of waste at homes must be done on a priority basis and defaulters penalised. People need to be educated and made aware of the consequences of the fires that take place at the waste dump. The MC must take the matter seriously and action must get percolated to residents as well.

Anju Mohan, Chandigarh

Take a cue from Indore, other clean cities

Chandigarh must take inspiration from cities like Indore and other clean cities to manage its waste well. At the same time, the Administration must educate residents. The MC alone cannot and should not be held responsible for the crisis. Make use of WhatsApp groups to create awareness and include them in the effort.

Garv Bhupesh, Panchkula

Methane can be harvested

Whenever there is a fire at the Dadu Majra dumping ground, a huge quantity of water is wasted in dousing the flames. Methane emissions at the dump cause fires to prolong and if we harvest this gas, much damage may be avoided. There should be round-the-clock vigil to stop the unauthorised entry of people and cattle at the dump. The disposal of waste should be expedited. Efficient automatic fire-control devices should be installed at the dump.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

Work on to reduce use of plastic

The Administration should work on to reduce the usage of plastic and other waste material in the city and also impose a special tax on industries that produce or use a lot of plastic material. Awareness should be created among people to reduce wastage. A project study should be assigned to a technical team so that a value-for-money project can be installed in the city.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

Set up hi-tech plant

The Municipal Corporation has failed to clear the mountain of garbage at Dadu Majra in a phased manner, missing several deadlines. Either the dump be immediately shifted out of Chandigarh or a state-of-the art solid waste-management plant set up. Social activists may approach the judiciary to deal with this health hazard.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

QUESTION

The Administration has proposed an amendment to the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, whereby it intends to increase the penalty imposed on building violations and misuse of premises from Rs. 500 to Rs. 2 lakh. Is the Administration justified in proposing nearly 400 times increase in the penalty?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com