The Ghazipur landfill is a landfill waste dumping site established in 1984. It is located in Ghazipur, a village in the eastern district of Delhi, India.[1]
The landfill covers an area of approximately 70 acres (28 ha) and reaches heights of over 236 feet (72 m).[2] Ghazipur has become one of the largest landfills in Delhi. The landfill reached its maximum capacity in 2002; however, it continues to receive solid waste from the city of Delhi.[3]
Despite efforts to mitigate problems, long-term mismanagement at the landfill has created significant ongoing environmental, fire, and human health hazards, with the site emitting toxic gases, polluting groundwater, and creating an extreme fire hazard.[4][5]
A major fire broke out at the landfill site on 21 April 2024; the fire rapidly spread, engulfing several areas of the landfill.[6] Toxic smoke from the fire has caused significant health and breathing problems.[7] The cause of the fire is undetermined.[8][9] The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has requested a reply from the relevant authorities, such as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), regarding the recent fire incident at the Ghazipur landfill site within a period of five weeks.[10]
References
edit- ^ Frayer, L. (6 July 2019), "A Day's Work On Delhi's Mountain Of Trash", NPR, retrieved 22 April 2024
- ^ "Ghazipur garbage dump almost as tall as Qutub Minar: Story behind Delhi's largest landfill site", India Today, 1 September 2018, retrieved 22 April 2024
- ^ Khan, M. (1 May 2023), "Waste processing at Ghazipur landfill yet to pick up pace", The Hindu, retrieved 22 April 2024
- ^ Matharu, S. (9 January 2023), "Machines are digging, dragging, tearing into Delhi garbage mountains. Time's running out", The Print India, retrieved 22 April 2024
- ^ Dhillon, A. (29 March 2022), "Toxic fumes fill Delhi's skies after vast landfill site catches fire", The Guardian, retrieved 22 April 2024
- ^ "Major fire erupts at Delhi's Ghazipur landfill site, smoke engulfs area", Hindustan Times, 22 April 2024, retrieved 22 April 2024
- ^ "As Ghazipur residents complain of throat and breathing irritation, we ask experts about health risks associated with landfill fire smoke", The Indian Express, 22 April 2024, retrieved 22 April 2024
- ^ "Striking images of Delhi's Ghazipur landfill fire: Horrid past and present", Times of India, 22 April 2024, retrieved 22 April 2024
- ^ "Ghazipur landfill fire: Govt investigating why it happened, says AAP leader Atishi", India Times, 22 April 2024, retrieved 22 April 2024
- ^ Service, Express News (6 May 2024). "NGT seeks authorities' reply on Ghazipur landfill blaze". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
See also
editFurther reading
edit- Kumar, S. (2023). Circular Economy in Municipal Solid Waste Landfilling: Biomining & Leachate Treatment. Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in the Environment. Springer. pp. 55–57. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-07785-2. ISBN 978-3-031-07785-2.
External links
edit- "In pictures: Delhi residents choke on landfill fire fumes", Reuters, 22 April 2024, retrieved 22 April 2024