Residents here are also concerned about potential health threats as garbage collection has been halted ever since the incident
Thick clouds of toxic smoke continue to hover over Kochi as hundreds of firefighters, including Naval troops, have been struggling to douse the fire that broke out at the Brahmapuram waste plant on March 2, 2023.
The incident brought inadequate waste treatment and the lack of a firefighting apparatus at the site into the spotlight. Several portions of the city are still covered by heavy fumes and the odour of burning plastic nearly five days after the fire broke out.
Also read: ‘Unscientific’ disposal, treatment of waste behind massive fire at Ghazipur landfill, say experts
“I can still smell burnt plastic even while staying five kilometres away from the site. I can’t imagine the pathetic situation of people staying near the plant,” said Binita D’Avravu, a resident of Maradu.
Some residents took to Facebook to express their displeasure with the city’s deep fog and bad odour.
“On the fifth day after the fire broke out at Brahmapuram, Kochi is covered with smog and a foul smell. Islands are not visible from Marine Drive even at 8: 30 am today,” posted Ranjit Thampy, a resident, on March 6.
People here have already inhaled and are still inhaling the toxic smoke, he added.
Also read: Third dumpsite fire in a month points to systemic failure of waste management in Delhi
Residents here are also concerned about potential health threats as garbage collection has been halted ever since the incident.
“Waste collection has been stopped since last Saturday. In our apartment, we don’t have a garbage collection facility. So we are not able to dispose even the wet waste piled up from Saturday,” said Geethu Agit, an IT professional from Kadavanthra.
The waste collection has to be suspended since lorries cannot approach the plant to unload the waste in the prevailing circumstances. The waste collection will resume once the fire is completely doused and the situation is brought under control, Kochi corporation mayor M Anilkumar told The Hindu.
Smoke emitted by the combustion of plastic and other waste materials contains toxic gases like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide, posing serious health threats.
A view from nearly 3.5 km away from the site. Photo: Linchu Mohan.
“We are worried about the long-term consequences associated with this,” Geethu said.
The smoke here irritates the eyes; some friends are experiencing sneezing and are wearing a mask at home. Even kids are complaining about irritation to the eyes, she added.
“On Saturday morning, Kochi’s PM2.5 and PM 10 levels were really high. However, N95 and N99 masks are supposed to block 95 per cent and 99 per cent of PM2.5,” Dr Mujeeb Rahman KK, consultant pulmonologist of VPS Lakeshore Hospital, told ONmanorama.
The fire at the Brahmapuram waste plant has been brought under control, but smoke is still rising. Efforts are continuing under the leadership of Fire and Rescue to douse the smoke,” Ernakulam District Collector Renu Raj posted on Facebook today.
Some “30 fire units are functioning. Forty thousand litres of water is used per unit. 120 fire brigade personnel are on the scene to extinguish the smoke. Also, there are Kochi Corporation employees. Two Navy helicopters are pumping water from above,” the collector said.
Dousing is done by flooding the entire fire area under water, she added.
Also read: Ghazipur, Delhi: Just why has this landfill been simmering for so long
A crisis conference presided over by Chief Secretary VP Joy on March 5, 2023, has advised residents to stay indoors and has directed hospitals to prepare for emergency admission of patients suffering from respiratory distress.
A high-level emergency meeting attended by industry minister P Rajeev, health minister Veena George and local self-government minister MB Rajesh reviewed the situation.
“N95 masks must be used by those in affected areas. People with respiratory diseases, pregnant women, children and the elderly should avoid going out if possible,” advised the health minister.
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board slapped a fine of Rs 1.80 crore on Kochi corporation following the outbreak. This is in addition to the notice given to the corporation in January last year demanding compensation of 14.92 crore.
“A chief engineer has been assigned for the legal proceedings. The time to complete the bio-mining procedures is over. Lapses in following procedures worsened the situation further. The environmental impact shall be studied well in the coming days and the corporation will be slapped with a fine again,” PCB chairman AB Pradeep Kumar told Mathrubhoomi.com.
The corporation has failed to comply with the Solid Waste Management Regulations, 2016, despite repeated orders from the National Green Tribunal. The corporation had then managed to obtain a stay from the Kerala High Court.
Though the plant was inaugurated in 2008 to manage solid waste, it was eventually converted into a landfill.
The facility subsided after a flood in 2009 owing to improper construction. The site, constructed after converting farmlands, failed to withstand water logging, said Abdul Basheer K, a former ward member of Vadavucode-Puthencruz Grama Panchayat.
“Every year, the local body issues tender for undertaking the biomining process, mostly to those associated with the ruling party. Once they cross the deadlines to finish the process, the contractors burn the waste. This has been recurrent and has happened every year since 2009. Following a blaze in 2010, some 54 families were relocated,” he added.
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Dousing is done by flooding the entire fire area under water. Photo: Facebook / Collector, Ernakulam..png)
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