Amid rising health concerns over smog spreading in areas adjacent to the Deonar dumping ground where a fire broke out on Saturday emitting toxic gases, a large number of residents today protested at A
Amid rising health concerns over smog spreading in areas adjacent to the Deonar dumping ground where a fire broke out on Saturday emitting toxic gases, a large number of residents today protested at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, demanding an immediate solution to the problem.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), meanwhile, said the fire was brought under control and cooling operation was on at the site. A number of fire fighting teams were engaged to douse the blaze completely, he said.
The protesters expressed anger and shock over the “failure” of civic administration in handling the situation, and demanded the dumping ground to be shut down. “The entire vicinity has turned into a smog chamber and our lives have become miserable. We have not sent our children to schools for the last two days and we don’t know what would happen next,” an angry resident said.
He, however, expressed hope that the civic officials would consider their demands seriously. Highlighting their concerns, another protester said they wanted the BMC to find an immediate and permanent solution to the problem.
“This is complete apathy from the government side too,” she said, adding the government raises the slogan of “Swachh Bharat” but they are dying to even get some “swachh air”. Meanwhile, replying to a query, BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta said 12 fire engines, eight water tankers of fire brigade and five of the civic body, one ambulance, a deputy fire officer, an assistant deputy fire officer, a station officer, six poclains, five JCBs and seven dumpers (to lift garbage) were on site and cooling operation was on.
