Coimbatore, Aug 24:
A major fire broke out at the Vellalore dump yard in the early hours of Sunday, spreading across nearly seven acres of accumulated waste and triggering an extensive firefighting operation involving 11 fire tenders and around 300 personnel.
The sprawling dump yard, spread over 654 acres, witnessed thick smoke as firefighters battled the blaze amid concerns over the environmental and public health impact on surrounding residential areas.
District Fire Officer K Ganesan said firefighters were working in shifts to prevent the fire from spreading further and bring it under control. Additional fire tenders from Tirupur, Erode and Dindigul districts were also expected to join the operation.
“Fire has spread across nearly seven acres. Around 300 firefighters are engaged in the operation on a rotational basis. Additional fire tenders from neighbouring districts are also expected to join the efforts. We expect to bring the fire under control within two days,” he said.
The latest incident has once again brought the long-standing problems associated with the Vellalore dump yard into focus, particularly the accumulation of legacy waste and concerns over the manner in which municipal waste is transported and processed.
Environmental activists and residents have alleged that the civic authorities have failed to fully address issues relating to waste segregation, processing and disposal despite directions issued by the National Green Tribunal.
V Easwaran, president and coordinator of the Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam, alleged that waste continued to be transported to the facility without adequate segregation at source.
He urged the Coimbatore Corporation to expedite biomining of the accumulated legacy waste and adopt more effective methods to process and dispose of the waste rather than allowing it to remain in large heaps.
The latest fire has also renewed demands for preventive infrastructure at the dump yard.
KS Mohan, secretary of the Kurichi-Vellalore Pollution Prevention Action Committee, said sprinkler systems should be installed to periodically spray water over accumulated waste and reduce the possibility of fires breaking out.
The thick smoke generated by the fire reportedly affected surrounding localities, including Mahalingapuram, Konavaikkalpalayam and Vellalore. Residents have also complained of foul odour from the dump yard.
Mohan said residents were additionally worried about possible groundwater contamination, with reports of changes in the colour of groundwater in the surrounding areas.
The incident comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over the management of solid waste at large dumping facilities. Accumulated organic and other combustible material can generate heat and increase the risk of fires, making regular processing and scientific disposal critical.
For residents living close to the facility, Sunday’s fire has therefore revived a familiar question: whether the city can continue depending on a massive dump yard without substantially reducing the quantity of unprocessed waste accumulating there.
The firefighting operation is expected to continue until the smouldering waste is completely brought under control.