The fire at Deonar dump yard has badly hit not only the health of residents, but also the studies of students in surrounding areas. Due to the pollution threats, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been forced to shut down all schools in M East and West wards, which includes Deonar.
As the fire continued to rage for three days, areas near the dump yard have been covered with smog and haze, causing health problems to residents. The BMC as a precautionary measure on Friday noon decided to shut down all municipal schools in surrounding areas. Schools in M-ward including those in Chembur, Deonar, Tilak Nagar, Pestom Sagar, Shivaji Nagar, Mankhurd, Baiganwadi, have been closed for Friday and Saturday.
“We decided to close all municipal schools with immediate effect and appealed all private schools to shut down. We will take a call whether to start schools again on Sunday by reviewing the fire situation at dump site,” said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner, K-East ward.
According to the civic officials, people complained about foul smell due to the burning of garbage at the dumping ground. They also suffered problems like breathing difficulties, eye irritation, vomiting etc.
“We have been facing this trouble for years. But there has been no solution to our difficulties despite repeated complaints. The schools have been closed for two days. Lot of people are suffering from health hazards,” said a Shivaji Nagar resident Rais Ahmed.
The civic health department has issued an advisory to local residents to protect themselves from the polluted air. As a precautionary measure, people should cover their nose and mouth with wet handkerchief and also wear black spectacles, said civic officials.
An official from the meteorological department said the burning of unsegregated combustible substances at the dump yard has led to formation of smog over the surrounding areas area due to combination of fog and smoke.
Environmentalists have accused the state government and the BMC of negligence over proper disposal of garbage at the dumping grounds. “Despite spending crores of money, all the waste including electronic wastes and other combustible wastes get deposited at a single dump yard. So, when a fire is instigated at a place, it spreads like a wild fire. It not only affects the environment but also health of the people staying around the areas,” said Rishi Aggarwal, a city-based environmentalist of Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank.
