No on-site emergency response plan at Dadumajra dump: Pollution board

No on-site emergency response plan has been prepared by the Municipal Corporation (MC) for the Dadumajra dumpsite, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stated in its reply submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The reply was submitted in compliance of NGT’s August 4 notice following media reports on environmental and public health emergency at the dumping site. The reports mentioned that due to continuous heavy rains, overflowing leachate and contaminated liquid run-off mixed with solid waste was spreading into nearby fields, and even seeping into the Patiala Ki Rao Choe.

The board in its reply added that no arrangement have been made for the detection of methane gas formation at the site and it also lacked CCTV cameras.

It stated that a site inspection of the dumpsite was carried out by CPCB officials on October 6 and 7. Officials from the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) and the Municipal Corporation were also present.

During the inspection, the CPCB team observed the leachate stagnated adjacent to the legacy waste and other places. It was also observed that there was no boundary wall around the legacy waste dump. The leachate was observed stagnated outside the legacy waste site nearby road adjacent to Patiala Ki Rao choe. The surface run off containing leachate from the dump site was observed flowing onto the adjacent road due to gradient difference/slope, which may eventually lead to Patiala Ki Rao choe flowing nearby during rain.

It was observed that leachate from the legacy waste dump site and the mixed waste processing plant area was flowing towards the boundary adjoining Dadumajra area colony through an unlined channel. It was informed by the MC representative that this untreated leachate, along with surface runoff, is discharged into the sewer line, which ultimately leads to the Maloya STP for treatment. For discharge into public sewers, standards Rules have to be complied with. “No such analysis has been done by the MC prior to discharge into public sewers,” stated the team.

The report stated that there was a composting facility of 300 TPD installed at the site, which was equipped with a Leachate Treatment Plant (LTP) of 100 KLD capacity.

It was observed that the catch pit drain of the wet waste processing plant area was chocked and the leachate was overflowing and spreading in the premises. It was further observed that flow metre was not installed at inlet of the LTP to record the quantity of leachate received at the treatment. However, a mechanical-type flow meter has been installed at the final outlet. As per records, the average quantity of leachate at the final outlet of LTP is 60 KLD. The treated leachate was presently being channelised into the sewer line of the nearby STP at Maloya.

The MC has provided another LTP of 26 KLD capacity for the leachate generated from the legacy waste. However, no leachate was observed coming to the plant.

Foul odour was noticed both within the premises and in the surrounding area of the dumpsite. It was observed that the provision for a buffer zone around the dumpsite site has not been made for carrying out plantation to control odour, stated the board.