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Ludhiana Dump Fire Menace: Bioremediation Lags Behind
28 Jun
Summary
- Bioremediation project pace is insufficient, requiring nighttime work.
- Drone surveys are used to assess waste settlement progress.
- Fire incidents at the dump site continue to trouble residents.
Frequent fires at Ludhiana's Tajpur Road garbage dump site are causing significant distress to local residents and overwhelming fire services. Compounding the issue, the bioremediation of legacy waste project has not progressed at the required pace since its commencement in early 2024.
Officials have urged the contractor to accelerate operations, even suggesting work continue through the night to meet targets. A drone survey was conducted to ascertain the volume of waste treated, with approximately 2.5 lakh metric tons processed so far against the requirement of 10,000 tons per day. The project, awarded in March 2024 for 20 lakh metric tons, experienced initial delays due to unmet electricity and infrastructure needs.
The slow progress is particularly concerning given the extended timeline of the first phase of bioremediation, which began in 2022 for 5 lakh metric tons and is yet to be declared complete. This phase's work is also being assessed via drone surveys. Daily, around 1,100 metric tonnes of fresh garbage are generated in the city, with a lack of segregation and processing contributing to the accumulation of legacy waste and recurring fire incidents.
The National Green Tribunal had mandated the bioremediation of legacy waste, yet the process is significantly delayed. The continuous arrival of unsegregated fresh waste at the dump site, coupled with the slow treatment of legacy waste, remains a critical issue that authorities are yet to fully address.
