Need to check gases at landfills: study

An exhaustive study supported by the Union ministry of environment and forests has shown that there is no mechanism for trapping harmful gases being released at a landfill in Okhla and preventing mixing of toxins with groundwater and drains.

An exhaustive study supported by the Union ministry of environment and forests has shown that there is no mechanism for trapping harmful gases being released at a landfill in Okhla and preventing mixing of toxins with groundwater and drains.

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The landfill at Okhla is one of the four such sites in the Capital and the lone solid waste management facility in south Delhi.

The study conducted by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in association with Jamia Millia Islamia has suggested waste disposal sites close to residential areas need urgent attention to address the issue of emission of methane.

The organisations on Thursday released the report on “demonstration of clean technology for landfill gas recovery from Okhla waste disposal site”. RK Pachauri of TERI said: “We need to capture and purify gas being emitted uncontrolled from the Okhla landfill. The gas can be used as energy source.”

Najeeb Jung, vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, said, “We need to improve the operating conditions of the Okhla landfill and its safe closure. The study provides a model replicable for other landfill sites in India.”