Ghazipur landfill on fire yet again

THE GHAZIPUR landfill area was shrouded in smoke on Sunday after a fire broke out at the site in the evening, officials said. A call in this regard was made at 5.22 pm following which fire tenders were rushed to the scene.

According to Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal, the reason behind the fire could be heat and dry weather. The fire could not be extinguished at the time of going to press, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) stated.

In addition to the eight fire tenders deployed by the DFS, the MCD also dispatched five excavators to the site.

Iqbal, who visited the site, wrote on X: “After the incident of fire at Ghazipur landfill came to light, I inspected the site. Gave instructions to the officials to control the fire soon. The fire broke out due to the heat and dryness of the weather. Five excavators and more fire engines are present to control the fire.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, sought to target MCD’S ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the incident.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, “CM Arvind Kejriwal had promised to clean this landfill site by December 31, 2023, before the 2022 elections of Delhi Municipal Corporation. But today, let alone an old mountain (of garbage), a new mountain has arisen at the landfill site. It is a matter of regret that today Kejriwal is in jail but Delhi’s

Environment Minister Gopal Rai and Mayor Dr Shelly Oberoi did not even consider it necessary to visit the spot.”

Police cordoned off the area. “We have cordoned off the area and cleared the road so that fire tenders can come easily. We are not allowing common people to stand there and to record videos,”aseniorpoliceofficersaid.

The Ghazipur landfill is the oldest one in Delhi, and is spread over 70 acres. This dumpsite has caught fire multiple times over the past years. (with PTI inputs)