The Brahmapuram fire at the Kochi dump yard is a wake-up call for Chennai.
What’s it about? Last summer, a fire raged for almost a week at the Perungudi and Kodungaiyur dump yards. News about the Kochi dump yard has triggered the Chennai Corporation to take some lessons. Biomining and chemical spraying are a couple of the methods being employed.
- The ongoing biomining process is being accelerated with men and machinery on standby in case of a fire. Chemicals are being sprayed to avoid methane build-up. Methane acts like a fuel when it mixes with the atmosphere.
- An eco-park, a bio CNG plant, and a material recovery facility will be set up. There are plans to make the city landfill-free and to process legacy and fresh waste. 60% of legacy waste is already biomined.
Who said what? N Mahesan from the Chennai Corporation said plans are ready for processing facilities for wet and dry waste at 190 acres at Perungudi. One resident from Kodungayur said the air and water get polluted, and there are small fires throughout the year. A 2019 study showed 32% of the residents there have respiratory issues.