Gopal Rai, Environment Minister, has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to impose a Rs 50 lakh fine on the North Delhi Municipal Corporation in respect of the recent fire at the Bhalswa Landfill.
Rai stated that the environment department has given directions to North MCD to install permanent water tanker station at the landfill site to manage insufficient water supply and increase field workers. A communication from the Environment Ministers office stated that the North MCD has been instructed to construct peripheral roads for easy transport at the landfill site.
Rai met last week with representatives of various institutions and departments, including The Energy and Resources Institute and Centre for Science and Environment at IIT Delhi. The meeting was to discuss how to deal methane emissions from landfill sites.
So far this summer, there have already been three fires at Ghazipur landfills and one at Bhalswa. Last month, the Environment Minister directed DPCC to impose a fine in the amount of Rs 50 lakh on East MCD for the Ghazipur landfill fire.
Rai stated that according to the DPCC’s report on the Bhalswa landfill fire, the constant release of methane from these landfill sites, rising Delhi temperatures, and a dry environment are the main reasons for regular fires in the landfill sites.
The communication stated that a team of four members from the East, North and DPCC MCDs will visit Mumbai on May 2, to collect information about a gas sucking mechanism used in the city.