Fire at Bandhwari landfill chokes neighbouring areas

A fire was reported in a section of the Bandhwari waste mountain on Sunday. The fire raged for over 12 hours and was yet to be doused till the filing of this report. According to the residents of the nearby Bandhwari village and society residents in Gwal Pahari area, the entire area was filled with smoke. Though MCG Commissioner Narhari Bangar was unavailable for comment, a senior MCG official posted at Bandhwari said that the fire broke on the rear side of the landfill towards the water hole with fire tenders facing difficulty in reaching the site.

“They have made a joke out of waste management. This is the fourth fire in the landfill in the last few months. Every time they promise a new measure, like fire detectors, but nothing works,” said environmentalist Vaishali Rana Chandra. “The entire area is filled with smoke but the authorities are least bothered. The winter is almost here and garbage fires have already started. Every year it’s the same story,” said environmentalist Vaishali Rana Chandra.

It may be noted that Gurugram’s air quality has already started slipping to poor category in the last six days. Waste burning in the open is being reported from across the city and the MCG has received over 50 complaints in the last five days. Many RWAs have themselves doused the fires set in their areas.

According to residents, such incidents go unchecked daily despite multiple complaints to the State Pollution Control Board. Waste-burning hotspots include DLF -2, IFFCO Chowk, Sector-10, Udyog Vihar, and Sector 31, among others. Locals alleged shopkeepers, garbage collectors, sanitation workers, and security guards burn trash in the open.

Talking about the actions being taken to curb waste burning, HSPCB regional officer Vijay Chaudhary said, “We have asked both MCG and MCM to take steps to curb garbage burning incidents in the city.”

Earlier Incidents of fire at Bandhwari

• April 24: A fire broke out in the inner area of the landfill and spread over half an acre. The fire released thick clouds of smoke that made it difficult to breathe. The fire was extinguished after 11 hours.
• June 2: Another fire at the landfill released thick clouds of smoke uptill at least 2 km. Locals reported that the smoke made it difficult to breathe.
• October 13: Fire still burning at Bandhwari smog grips the forest and nearby area.

Waste burning in the open

• The MCG has received over 50 complaints in the last five days regarding waste burning in the open.
• Waste-burning hotspots include DLF-2, IFFCO Chowk, Sector 10, Udyog Vihar and Sector 31, among others.
• Locals alleged shopkeepers, garbage collectors, sanitation workers and security guards burn trash

  in the open.