Fire at dumping ground in Kalyan

“We have pressed into service all the fire tenders and tankers of the KDMC. There are at least 12 fire tenders, including those called from neighbouring towns of Bhiwandi, Thane and Navi Mumbai,” said Chief Fire Officer Dilip Gund.

Civic officials said the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

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“It appears that there are pocket fires at multiple places, which are spreading because of the heavy winds,” said Deepak Patil, Deputy Municipal Commissioner.
Patil said they had issued advisories to slum residents living near the dumping ground to evacuate the area.

“Though the smoke has reduced, the fire is yet to be completely brought under control,” he said, adding that police personnel had deployed too.

Officials said methane generated from the dumped waste could be the cause of the fire.

A similar fire had broken out at the dumping ground in February, when residents had complained of breathlessness due to the smoke.

The Bombay High Court had, in April 2015, restrained the KDMC from giving any further permissions for residential and commercial constructions.

The ban was lifted only in April this year after assurances from the municipal authorities regarding the setting up of two waste treatment plants to scientifically dispose of the garbage.