Mangaluru's Pachanady fire: Residents complain of health issues

MANGALURU: Residents of Pachanady and surrounding areas held a protest near the waste dump yard of the Mangaluru city corporation (MCC) on Tuesday complaining that many people in the area have been suffering from health issues due to the smoke that continues to emanate from the landfill site. The fire broke out on January 6.
Health issues related to respiratory illness are being reported, said many residents. A special school near the dump yard has declared holidays, they added. Mayor Jayanand Anchan has said that he will take the necessary steps to solve the issue.
Social activist MG Hegde said that the problems of the people in Pachanady will not end until the huge piles of legacy waste, about nine lakh tonnes, are not cleared from the landfill site. "Every year, fire breaks out in the dump yard, but the city corporation has no scientific solution to prevent it. There is no water storage and manpower to douse accidental fire incidents in the dump yard. There is a mafia that operates to get benefits out of the garbage mess. They tried to prevent people from participating in the protest and put pressure on the police to deny permission," he said.
People, including special children at a nearby school, are suffering from the smoke, he said. "People's representatives, including Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, mayor Jayanand Anchan and MLAs need to speak. Let them visit the place and speak to the residents," he said. Harish Mangalanagara, a resident, said that the fire incident led to cough, fever and several other health issues among people in the area. He urged the authorities concerned to send medical teams and provide the necessary aid.
'Fire not man-made'
Mayor Jayanand Anchan said that the fire at the dump yard was not a man-made mishap.
He told reporters here on Tuesday that CCTV footage of the dump yard had been verified.
"The fire might have broken out due to chemical gases produced by garbage. Meanwhile, gusty winds led to the spread of fire," the mayor said. "Sprinklers will be provided in the dumping yard to prevent fire mishaps in the future. Roads will be developed for the convenience of fire and emergency vehicles inside the dumping yard. Further, arrangements will also be made to store water inside the dumping yard," he said.
MCC commissioner Akshy Sridhar said that a team from the health department had visited houses in Pachanady, Vamanjoor, Kavoor, Kudupu, Bondel, Padavinangady and surrounding areas. "No health issues were noticed among the people. The health department will continue monitoring the area," he added.