In the wake of a significant conflagration, the Ghazipur landfill persisted in emitting thick smoke on Monday, with endeavors in progress to quench the flames. Fire authorities disclosed that the gas engendered by the heap of refuse caused the landfill to undergo a substantial fire on Sunday evening. Numerous inhabitants residing proximately to the landfill reported throat and respiratory discomfort.
The conflagration at the landfill has incited a political clash between the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Virendra Sachdeva, the Delhi BJP president, ventured to the Ghazipur landfill on Monday, where refuse ignited a day prior, and contended it was a demonstration of “corruption” by the AAP administration.
Within a single year of the BJP seizing power in Delhi, this refuse mound shall be eradicated, he asserted. No immediate response was forthcoming from the Aam Aadmi Party regarding Sachdeva’s accusation. Substantial columns of smoke yet ascended towards the heavens from the Ghazipur landfill on Monday, following a significant conflagration that erupted there.
“The Ghazipur refuse heap stands as a blatant demonstration of corruption by the Kejriwal administration. They pledged to eliminate this mountain of refuse by 2023 but another has surfaced here. This is attributable to the MCD’s corruption. Over half of the machinery remains inoperative. Why was there no effort to rectify this?” Sachdeva contended.
“It shall be eliminated within a year from the date the BJP assumes governance in Delhi,” he added. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had, prior to the 2022 MCD election, vowed to clear the landfill location by December 31, 2023. Nevertheless, the pile of refuse persists in burgeoning.
In 2019, the elevation of the Ghazipur landfill reached 65 meters, a mere eight meters shy of the Qutub Minar. In 2017, a section of the refuse at the dumping ground collapsed onto an adjoining thoroughfare, resulting in the demise of two individuals. Three episodes of conflagrations were documented at the Ghazipur landfill in 2022, one of which, on March 28, required over 50 hours to be extinguished.
As per MCD, the target to eliminate the extensive heap of refuse from the Ghazipur landfill location has been established for 2026. A study was undertaken in 2019 concerning the refuse at this location, estimating a total of 1.40 lakh metric tons. Subsequently, the target to dispose of this refuse was set for 2024.
MCD entered into an accord with a corporation on November 24, 2022, to manage the remaining 80 lakh metric tons of refuse for processing at the Ghazipur location. The corporation had set a goal to process 30 lakh metric tons of refuse within 18 months. However, the corporation failed to attain the objective.
Currently, approximately 80 lakh metric tons of refuse remain at the Ghazipur location, necessitating removal. Accordingly, MCD has now designated a new target for 2026.