Smoke Continues At Delhi’s Ghazipur Landfill Amid Political Blame-Game | Latest Updates

With efforts underway to extinguish the flames of Delhi's Ghazipur dumping ground, the political blame-game has taken centre stage.

Source: PTI

New Delhi: Quashing all allegations from the opposition in Delhi, AAP Minister Atishi said that the height and width of garbage mountains are continuously decreasing under AAP's regime. She added that it will take some time for the party to clear the 15 year of mess that the BJP has spread in Delhi. A massive fire has continued to engulf the Ghazipur landfill site in the National Capital since Sunday evening. Delhi Police has filled an FIR against unknown persons linked with landfill fire incident, reported PTI. The police said that an investigation is underway after registering a case at Ghazipur Police Station under sections 336 (endangering the safety of others) and 278 (creating a harmful environment) of the law. 

With efforts underway to extinguish the flames of the dumping ground, the political blame-game has taken centre stage. As nearby residents are complaining of breathing difficulties this situation is not new. Last year, a similar blaze on March 28 required over 50 hours to be fully extinguished. In 2017, two people lost their lives when a portion of the garbage from the dumping yard collapsed onto an adjacent road.

#WATCH | Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi says, "The height and width of garbage mountains are continuously decreasing since the AAP government came in power... But it will take some time for the AAP government to clear the mess that the BJP has made in Delhi for 15 years." pic.twitter.com/vdGbHuZ7LQ — ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024

What Is The Current Situation?  

Delhi Fire Service SO Naresh Kumar, while talking to ANI, said that there were no casualties. He mentioned that they received a call around 6 pm regarding the fire at the Ghazipur landfill, and 10 fire tenders were deployed, with four of them operating on the upper side of the mountain and the bowsers stationed at the bottom. He noted that the fire broke out due to gas produced in the landfill.  

#WATCH | Smoke continues to billow from Ghazipur landfill site in Delhi where a fire broke last evening.

Delhi Fire Services say that the fire was caused due to the gas produced in the landfill. No casualty reported.

(Visuals shot at 7:15 am) pic.twitter.com/5aZNtzMWbU

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024

In a post on X, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi said that, as per instructions, all officers are present on the spot and everything is under control.  

गाजीपुर लैंडफिल साइट पर आगजनी का मामला सामने आने के बाद घटना स्थल का निरीक्षण किया। अधिकारियों को आग पर जल्द काबू पाने के निर्देश दिए।
गर्मी और मौसम में ड्राइनेस की वजह से आग लगी है। आग पर काबू पाने के लिए 5 एक्स्कवेटर और अधिक दमकल की गाड़ियां मौजूद हैं। pic.twitter.com/D8LKbpzguf — Aaley Muhammad Iqbal (@AaleyIqbal) April 21, 2024

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Aaley Muhammad Iqbal, who was among those present at the spot, said in a post on X that he has inspected the site and given instructions to the officials, and five excavators are deployed at the scene. He further informed that the fire broke out due to the hot and dry weather.  

A Delhi Fire Services official told PTI, "We received a call regarding the blaze at 5.22 pm, and initially two fire tenders were pressed into service. Later, six more fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Firefighters are trying to douse the flames.  

Political Finger-Pointing Intensifies  

The political barb exchange between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) began soon after the incident. BJP leader Kapil Mishra, in a post on social media platform 'X', hit out at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. He wrote, “... Fraud Arvind Kejriwal fought the MCD elections by showing the photo of this Ghazipur landfill. This smoke is as poisonous as Kejriwal's lies and is endless.”  

दिल्ली के गाजीपुर लैंडफिल में भयानक आग लगी हुई है

विषैला धुआं हवाओं में घुल रहा है

इसी गाजीपुर लैंडफिल की फोटो दिखा दिखाकर फ्रॉड अरविंद केजरीवाल ने MCD का चुनाव लडा

ये धुआं केजरीवाल के झूठों की तरह जहरीला है और अंतहीन है pic.twitter.com/nxXxTgjkHi — Kapil Mishra (Modi Ka Pariwar) (@KapilMishra_IND) April 21, 2024

Praveen Shankar Kapoor, spokesperson for the Delhi BJP, stated that the landfill fire has resulted in widespread smoke, causing discomfort for both residents and businesses in the vicinity. Despite Delhi CM’s promises to clear the landfill site by December 31 of the previous year, ahead of the 2022 MCD elections, the situation has worsened, with additional garbage being added instead of being cleared, reported PTI, citing a statement from the party.