20240509 Fire in Khanna dump rages, villagers choke on smoke
India May 09 2024 “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire in Khanna dump rages, villagers choke on smoke
Updated: 2024-05-09
Ludhiana: The residents of villages near the main garbage dump in Khanna are having sleepless nights because of smoke billowing from the site due to a recent fire. Choking on dense smoke and ash spread in the area, the villagers said that they will move high court over the issue.
Harpal Singh, a resident of Bahomajra village, said a fire broke at the garbage dump at Rasoolra village a few days ago and although it subsided, smoke continued to emanate from the site. Harpal added that facing respiratory issues, the villagers had gathered at the garbage dump on Tuesday and raised the issue with authorities concerned, however no action was taken and were still breathing ash mixed air.
Block Samiti member, Kulwinder Singh Aujla said the authorities concerned assured them that the issue will be resolved in two days. He added that if that doesn’t happen they will move the high court on the issue.
‘A health hazard’
Aujla said that two years ago, they had raised the issue residents being vulnerable to health risks due to frequent fires at the garbage dump and stench emanating from the site with the civil administration and municipal council. He added that the then SDM had assured them that the problem would be resolved in six months but that didn’t happen. He added that six to seven villages including Rasoolra, Bhatiyan, Bahomajra, Ikolahi, Ikolaha, Bhagor, and Libra are facing respiratory, skin and eye related issues due to toxic gases and smoke emanating from the site.
A villager, on condition of anonymity, said that the land was acquired by the sewerage board in 1997-98 for establishing a sewerage treatment plant (STP). Afterwards, the MC started dumping garbage at the site and the land was not used for the purpose it was acquired.
The villager said that many people are finding it hard to breathe because of smoke and some have developed eye problems as well.
Khanna MC executive officer Charanjit Singh claimed that smoke was not emanating from the site anymore. He added that the bioremediation of garbage will start in two to four days and it will be disposed off. MC officials said that the process for tender for bioremediation of garbage was floated thrice and now a contractor has been allotted the project.
Web Source The Times of India