The Tribune Impact: Gurugram MC seeks reply from sanitary inspector on fire at dumpyard

A day after The Tribune highlighted the issue of recurring fire at a waste dumpyard leading to poor air quality, the Joint Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (Zone-1) has written a letter to the sanitary inspector, demanding a clarification from him in this regard.

A copy of the report published in these columns on November 8 has also been attached with the letter.

The letter said the fire that had occurred at a garbage dumping ground near Khandsa village in Sector 37 of Gurugram had not been addressed so far. It also highlighted the risk associated with waste burning.

It read that they were directed to ensure strict prohibition on burning of garbage at all dumping grounds, secondary collection points and in public spaces, but the recent case of fire had become a matter of serious concern.

The letter read that the area was highly populated and the recurring fire resulted in breathing issues among residents as it led to the release of several toxic gases that might be highly dangerous for them. Keeping in view the fact that no action was taken, the Joint Commissioner directed the sanitary inspector to resolve the problem and ensure that necessary steps are taken to avoid such incidents in future. Besides, he asked the sanitary inspector to submit a reply explaining his position as to why the issue was left unaddressed.

The Tribune had highlighted that residents of Khandsa village had been dealing with breathing issues due to recurring fires at the ‘khatta.

‘Khatta’ is a secondary waste collection point, where the domestic waste from across the city is gathered before being transported to a treatment plant. The locals had sent a letter to the MCG, stating that the waste at the dumpyard was smouldering for several days, leading to breathing issues.