East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC)’s insensitivity and inefficiency to shift the garbage accumulated at Ghazipur landfill site has proved fatal, claiming two lives while several got hurt. The crisis could have averted if the agency had taken an appropriate step on time instead of passing the buck on others, citing apathy in allotting land for another landfill site. According to a senior EDMC official the permissible height of the site is 15-20 metres but currently it is about 50 metres above ground level, leading to the tragedy.
Terming the incident unfortunate, EDMC Mayor Neema Bhagat, talking to The Pioneer said that due to shortage of another site the landfill site has crossed the height of 50 metres and with 3000 tonnes of garbage. Further continuous rain may help in loosening the grip and fall subsequently.
Bhagat further said, "We signed MoU with NHAI to extract the garbage and use it for construction of a 82km stretch between Delhi and Meerut on the National Highway-24. The tender has been issued and the work will be started soon. As proposed 75 per cent. The project help will help in remedying polluted environment surrounding the existing landfill. Further75 per cent of this garbage will be used in road construction and the immediate problem will be solved."
"We have also decided to lieutenant Governor regarding allotment of landfill sites so that such kind of incident can be averted. We will also call a meeting to discuss the future course of action," Mayor said.
According to a senior EDMC official the height of the site should not more than 20 meters but due to unavailability of sites the agency is forced to allow garbage dumping here. As per rules, it should have closed down in 2002," he said.
Meanwhile Ranbir Singh, commissioner of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation said "Rescue operation is underway. Reason of the incident can be ascertained only after investigation." The civic agency despite the warning of National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), forced Delhiites to sit on a ticking time bomb as they have been completely failed to initiate measures on time. Ignoring the warnings of these environment watchdogs, the Corporation neither chalked any plan to remove millions of tons of garbage nor stopped dumping on daily basis.