Prakash Javadekar orders probe into ‘serious’ Deonar incident

Amid raging concerns over the issue of fire at Mumbai’s Deonar dumping ground, the minister of state (independent charge) for environment Prakash Javadekar on Monday ordered a probe into the matter by a two-member special team after terming the incident “serious”.

The environment minister blamed the fire during a phone call with the BMC commissioner on the “callousness” of the contractors in charge of managing the dump yard and said action would taken against the violators. Asked if there was a possibility of sabotage, he said it would be clear once the team submits its report after its investigation. “Fire at dump yard which is emitting toxic gases is a serious issue. This shows callousness on the part of contractor and those who are involved in the operations of managing a dumping waste,” the MoS said, adding, “We are sending a two-member special team on Monday evening to the dumping site and our team will submit a full report within a week. I have discussed it with the commissioner and will discuss it with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis as soon as the report is ready.”

This is the second massive fire in the area in less than two months.

A massive fire had broken out at the dumping yard, spread across 326 acres, on January 27 leading to a thick blanket of smog in various parts of Mumbai.

Mr Javadekar said that last year he had visited three dumping sites and seen the kind of steps taken to avert such incidents and the risks involved.

“We (the environment ministry) will give appropriate advice and directions to state government and Mumbai corporations and also will ask them to take stern actions against violators. This is a big issue,” he said. “The ministry will issue the new solid waste management rules within a fortnight, which will provide a solution to waste collection,” he added.