THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Residents of the areas surrounding the garbage dump in Taleigao have been suffering from tremendous air pollution for the past couple of days with thick smoke emanating from the garbage dump, and the Fire Department unable to help much.
When "The Goan" visited the area on Monday evening, thick smoke enveloped the area for at least half a kilometer radius of the garbage dump, making breathing without inhaling the smoke impossible. The road which links Taleigao and Dona Paula was full of the smoke emanating from the dump. What's more, some young boys were seen playing football right outside the garbage dump, making it hazardous to their health.
A resident of the area Coralie D'Lima sent out a tweet late Monday evening asking Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to intervene. "Toxic fires/smoke of burning plastic from Taleigao dump have been affecting the health and well-being of residents from Taleigao and Dona Paula for over a month! @visrane please help!!!" said the tweet.
By way of explanation she also offered that the problem had been affecting the residents for more than a month. An environmental scientist herself, she went on to say that the fire could not be put out easily because it was deep within the dump and was caused by methane gas.
Residents of the area held a community meeting on Monday that went on till late to discuss the matter.
Atithi Dalvi told the Goan that even though she lived pretty far away from the dump and closes her windows, the smoke still finds a way to enter.
"I have asthma and this only makes it worse. Monday was the worst day; it was almost like a smog," said Dalvi.
An official from the Fire Department told "The Goan" that garbage like plastic was being burnt at the dump for the last seven to eight days, and that on Monday itself the Department had sent a water tanker to try and put out the flames. "Residents complain that in the morning, someone lights a fire at the dump," said the official.
Meanwhile, the Department also had to send a water tanker to put out a fire at the old garbage dump at Campal on Monday. However, the official said that at Campal, the fire was not caused by garbage being burnt but more by the dry grass.
