Fire, smoke at Bhagtanwala garbage dump continue to annoy residents in Amritsar

Despite repeated assurances by the authorities to implement fire-prevention arrangements at the Bhagtanwala dumping site, the situation on the ground remains grim. With no effective preventive system in place, smoke continues to billow from the massive garbage heaps, exposing nearby residents to hazardous air and health risks. The fire brigade is called in only as a reactive measure, to douse the flames once a fire breaks out. On Tuesday night, a massive fire had broken out at the dump which was doused late at night but smoke is still emitting from the site.

During peak summer months, particularly in June and July, the temperatures in Amritsar often soar above 40°C, causing methane gas in the garbage to ignite spontaneously. These fires release toxic smoke, making life unbearable for people living near the dump. According to municipal officials, an estimated 1.8 million metric tonnes of waste currently sits at the site, and an additional 550 to 600 metric tonnes is dumped there daily.

Sanjay Sharma, office-bearer of an NGO Save Amritsar, said, “The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) rules are not being followed by the MC, which led to routine fires on the dump. The smoke is affecting every individual in the Amritsar but no one cares.”

Municipal Health Officer (MHO) Dr Kiran Kumar recently inspected the site with officials. He stated that sprinkling water daily and levelling of the garbage using machines is underway to reduce gas emissions. A water tank is also being constructed near the site alongside a functional tubewell to aid in fire control.

However, an on-ground visit revealed that many of these claimed preventive arrangements are either inadequate or missing entirely. Residents continue to suffer as the towering dump poses environmental and health threats, with the administration still racing against time to find a long-term solution.

The Amritsar Municipal Corporation had initially awarded the contract for city sanitation and bioremediation of the dump to Averda, a private waste management firm. However, due to unsatisfactory performance, the company was removed from the legacy waste treatment assignment.

To address the growing mountain of waste, the MC had issued tenders for bioremediation and legacy waste disposal. After technical issues stalled the process, fresh tenders were issued on May 29 and are scheduled to open on July 4. If awarded successfully, officials say the dump site could be cleared within 15 months, offering much-needed relief to local residents. Meanwhile, the urgency of proactive action during the dangerous summer months remains.