Team Herald
PANJIM: With frequent fire incidents at garbage dumping sites being reported leading to adverse impact on environment, the State Pollution Authority (SPCB) is been directed to conduct comprehensive risk assessment studies of all its legacy waste dumpsites and to prepare on-site emergency plans for them.
In a series of directions issued to tackle the fire incidents, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked its State body to ensure that no fresh waste is disposed at the dumpsite where bio-remediation is being undertaken. It has also imposed ban on dumping organic waste from slaughter house, fish marker, industrial waste and e-waste at such dumpsites.
Sonsoddo legacy waste, the State’s oldest garbage dump, estimated to be 2, 38,240 cubic metres, has often been in news for fire incidents. Nearly, 1, 01,207 cubic metres of waste from the site is being remediated till date. However, while on one side remediation process was underway, the fresh waste was continued to be dumped at the site
The State has a total of 11 dumps which has a legacy waste of 4.7 lakh cubic metric tonnes. “Waste disposed at dumpsites is prone to catching fire in view of inadequate waste management practices adopted at these sites. Fire incidents at dumpsites may lead to severe adverse impact on environment and related health hazards. People living in and around the dumpsites are likely to be affected due to the frequent outbreaks of fire,” the CPCB said in its directions.
