Pallikaranai continues to choke

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Smoke emanating from Pallikaranai dumpyard continues to choke residents for the third consecutive day. “It has been 24 hours since the Pallikaranai dumpyard fire was put off, but normalcy is yet to be return in the locality.

Public complain of irritation and burning sensation in the eyes due to the smoke emanating from the corporation dumpyard,” said Mr N. Balaji, an avid bird watcher who frequents Pallikaranai marsh.

But, addressing reporters at Ripon Buildings, corporation commissioner D. Karthikeyan said so far, there has been no public complaint of respiratory problems or irritation in the eye.

The civic body was monitoring the situation and would conduct a health camp to screen the locals if smoke continued to rise.

Listing out the measures taken by the corporation, the top official said they were coordinating with the police and fire department to prevent such incidents in future.

Police intervention has been sought to nab the miscreants who set fire to collect metal remnants from the garbage.

Additional private security personnel would be deployed to prevent the entry of miscreants into the dumpyard. Responsibilities have been fixed among the corporation staff to prevent such a recurrence, he said.

According to Ripon Buildings sources, two police stations near the Pallikaranai dumpyard have been asked to enhance patrol in the area. Water from over 400 tankers was used to put off the flames by Sunday night.

The fire had spread to several acres, as the emission of methane was high due to the prevailing hot weather.

Tenders to establish zero waste management facility would be finalised in about two months as 31 firms from different parts of the world have submitted expression of interest. Compost sites are also under identification, Mr Karthikeyan added.

Dumpyard gas emissions worrying

The unchecked garbage mounds over the years have resulted in the formation of methane and ethane gas and are adding to the threat of fire in these dumpyards.

“Gas emission would be at its peak every summer. Even if there are no fire accidents, this gas emission over a period of time will certainly pollute the atmosphere,” said Mr R. Govindaraj, joint general secretary, Exnora International.

Former Opposition floor leader of Chennai corporation Saidai P. Ravi said a simple solution can be arrived at by segregating waste at the transfer stations and banning plastic will do wonders, if implemented.

Corporation commissioner D. Karthikeyan said the government has passed instructions to speed up work regarding the establishment of zero waste centres and landfill sites.

An abandoned quarry near Sriperumbudur is being considered for landfill and vacant lands near Periyapalayam and Minjur have been identified to establish zero waste centres, he said.

He said Alandur municipality has been dumping garbage for years at Pallikaranai, but the site was closed following its merger with Chennai.

A resolution to hand over a portion of the land to the forest department would be brought in at the corporation council meeting, he added.