Landfill fires: Delhi assembly panel summons commissioners of East, North Delhi Municipal Corporations

As per the sitting notice issued to the two commissioners on December 7, they have been asked to appear before the Delhi assembly’s environment committee on December 9

The commissioners of the East and North Delhi Municipal Corporations have been summoned before the Delhi assembly’s environment committee regarding frequent fire incidents at the Ghazipur and Bhalaswa landfill sites in the city.

Firefighters spray water to extinguish fire at Ghazipur garbage landfill, in New Delhi on November 25. (HT file)

As per the sitting notice issued to the two commissioners on December 7, they have been asked to appear before the committee on December 9.

Senior AAP leader and committee chairperson Atishi on Tuesday said the two landfill sites have been major contributors to air pollution in Delhi. “The two commissioners have been summoned to ensure that such fire incidents do not occur in the future,” Atishi said in a statement.

She added that the meeting has been called to know the reason behind poor waste management of the municipal corporations, which is leading to frequent incidents of garbage burning and a considerable increase in the height of the landfill sites in Delhi.

On November 25, a fire at the Ghazipur landfill that raged for over 12 hours had led to a spike in the pollution levels in Delhi with the air quality reaching the severe zone.

Three days later, another fire was reported from the Bhalaswa landfill site. “These fire incidents are making all the efforts of the Delhi government redundant and strict action must be taken against the authorities responsible for the fires,” said Atishi.

HT has reached out to the commissioners of the North and East corporations for comment. The report will be updated with their responses.