Uttan fire: MBMC suspects foul play

Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) officials are suspecting foul play in the massive fire that broke out on Saturday evening at the Uttan dumping ground. So much so, they have requested police to investigate if there was any sabotage. MBMC has also decided to install CCTV cameras at the dumping ground. While the fire was doused on Tuesday evening, smoke is still being seen at the site.

API Priyatma Muthe of Arnala coastal police said, “A case has been registered with the Uttan coastal police station in this regard, against unknown persons for the garbage fire. Though MBMC is suspecting foul play, we are probing all possible angles.”

Deputy municipal commissioner, MBMC, Dr Sambhaji Panpatte, said that the corporation was taking steps to prevent fire breaking out at the dumping ground in future. “As part of our plans to prevent such fires, we will install CCTV cameras inside the dumping ground to identify miscreants, and a decision to appoint security guards at the site will be taken by MBMC commissioner, Achyut Hange,” said Dr Panpatte. He added that the corporation, heeding advice from Mumbai fire brigade experts, is spraying magnesium chloride powder on garbage heaps to prevent fire.

Meanwhile, shutters have been downed on the `16 crore solid waste management plant (SWMP) at Uttan since October 2013 owing to protests from Bhayander villagers who want the plant closed permanently on air pollution grounds. As a result, garbage is being dumped in the open at Uttan.

Officials said that earlier, SWMP would manufacture bricks, fertilisers and recycled plastic from the daily 400 ton garbage and only 19 per cent would be chemically disposed. However with SWMP closed since October 2013, garbage is dumped in the open at Uttan and due to the sun beating down mercilessly, it might have caught fire.