The recent massive fire in Bhandewadi Dumping Yard posed significant social, economical and environmental challenges for the city. Many social organisations and NGOs are talking about its environmental impact from day one, but no one is talking about the economic loss of the rag-pickers of the yard who are completely dependent on the garbage in the yard and are most affected due to the fire. Even Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is blaming the rag-pickers for this massive fire. Like every time, this time also the civic body claimed that the main cause of fire was cigarette or bidi used by the ragpickers inside the dumping yard premises.

 

However, every person who works inside the dumping yard, including the rag-pickers, are well aware that the premises are a no-smoking zone area. If smoking is restricted in the premises, then someone using flammable substance inside it raises the question on the civic body itself. The Hitavada, with the help of a local NGO named Centre For Sustainable Development (CFSD), explored the condition of the rag-pickers there after the fire incident. Around 300 rag-pickers, belonging to backward classes, are completely dependent on selling garbage from the yard. They are now shattered and helpless after the fire incident.

 

There is nothing left for them to earn their bread and butter from. They have to wait for new garbage in the yard to restart their earning source. Till then they are jobless. Prabha Netam, a mid-aged rag-picker, lost her makeshift home and work station completely in the fire incident. She has nothing to earn money from as her son is also unemployed. She is now completely dependent on NMC and others to get her daily bread and butter. “I am working in this dumping yard from last 30 years and have witnessed many big and small fire incidents here. But this was the biggest one ever. I lost every thing in this fire. My cloths, utensils, photographs, my complete home and work area is burnt in fire,” said Netam. Similarly, another rag-picker named Bhola Singh, a resident of Antuji Nagar, said, “We live here in very adverse situations. We have no earning source. That is why we collect garbage and sell it to others. We earn Rs 300 to Rs 400 per day and we run our home on its basis. Now everything is over and we have to search something else to do to feed ourselves.”

 

CFSD is working in Bhandewadi area for many years by conducting various studies to get exact condition of the residents there on environment, social and economic fronts. “Every day, these rag-pickers collect about 70-80 kgs of garbage from the dumping yard and earn approximately Rs 500 per day from there. These 300 rag-pickers are collecting 24,000 kgs of garbage daily and they are helping the civic body in recycling such a huge quantity of garbage daily. Instead of blaming these rag-pickers for the fire incident, NMC should help them in this tough situation by providing them work” Leena Buddhe, Director, CFSD told The Hitavada. “When these rag-pickers are completely dependent on the garbage of the dumping yard then why would they burn their own earning source by cigarette or bidi?” questioned Buddhe. “This massive fire has had a devastating impact on these waste-pickers. Waste-pickers often work in hazardous conditions, but a fire of this scale poses immediate threats to their health, safety, and income,” said Buddhe. 

 

 

The firefighting activity in Bhandewadi Dumping Yard entered the fourth day as the fire in the dump is yet to be controlled by the Fire and Emergency Services Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The NMC is in an overdrive to contain the flames — but new hurdles are emerging. To stop the blaze, 1,880 tonnes of soil has been dumped atop the burning mound, transported Contd from page 1 via 235 tipper truck trips, each carrying 8 tonnes. The soil, sourced from nearby bio-mining pits, is being laid over the waste to cut off oxygen and slow the fire’s spread. Adding to the crisis, fire tenders have been draining water from nearby wells, leading to plummeting groundwater levels.

 

In response, Orange City Water (OCW) has stepped in, refilling the wells via tankers, effectively turning them into water-charging stations for the fire trucks. Despite efforts, the core of the garbage mountain still burns, releasing toxic gases like dioxins, CO, and hydrogen cyanide. Nearby residents are complaining about breathing issues, skin irritation, and eye discomfort, while firefighters continue their battle using M50 protective respirators. Meanwhile, garbage collection citywide has crippled, with 600 waste vehicles rerouted to temporary holding sites near the SusBDe sewage treatment plant.