People forced to breathe toxic air…
Parts of Kochi engulfed in poisonous smoke after waste plant fire; people urged to stay indoors…
Brahmapuram Fire Coup?
The fire at the Brahmapuram waste plant, of Kochi Corporation which could not be extinguished despite three days of efforts, is causing severe health problems. 20 people, including the district fire officer, sought medical treatment after inhaling toxic fumes. Some coughed up blood. At the same time, suspicions that the fire was a coup d’état were strengthened.
Smoke is spreading like fog day and night in Brahmapuram, Kakkanad, Tripunithura and West Kochi areas. The District Collector Ms. Renu Raj said that the people of Brahmapuram should close their doors and windows and stay at home and not open any businesses. All hospitals in Ernakulam city and nearby areas have also been directed to keep adequate oxygen reserves.
Yesterday, Air Force helicopters tried to spray water to control the heavy smoke, but failed. Then the helicopters returned. Seven fire brigade units have been pumping water into the plastic mounds since Thursday evening. Although the fire has subsided, the smoke is spreading strongly.
Fire force units of Cochin Port Trust and SIAL will be deployed today. Two big pumps will be delivered today to pump water from Kadambarayar.
Fire spread in many places simultaneously:
The main reason for the suspicion of sabotage is that the fire broke out in many places at the same time in many parts of the waste mountains spread over fifty acres. There is a presumption that there are ulterior motives associated with the contracts.
In a high-level meeting held at the Collectorate yesterday, Chief Secretary VP Joy instructed Kochi City Police Commissioner K. Sethuraman to investigate and submit a report. Fires at the plant have been ongoing for the last ten years almost during every summer.
A plant with Crores of Rupees of corruption:
The waste plant is owned by the Kochi Corporation. Crores are lost every year in contracts like waste collection, plant management, plastic sales and earthworks. It is a gold mine for officials and many people’s representatives.
One person ran the plant for 12 years. The contract was awarded to a new company last year. There was opposition in the ruling party over the same. Subsequently the two-year contract was reduced to one year. The new contractor has set up a new plant at a cost of two crores. The contract is also worth crores to cover the buried waste. Apart from this, last year, a contract worth 55 crore was awarded for biomining, which recovers and processes buried plastic waste. This work is currently in progress.
Plant spread in104 acres:
Brahmapuram is Kerala’s largest solid state processing plant which spread over 104 acres on the shores of Katambarayar in Puthankurish panchayat, purchased by the Cochin Corporation. Garbage from the city, five municipalities and three panchayats is dumped here.
Quantity of Waste:
180 Tons: Organic Waste Daily
75 Loads: Plastic Waste Daily
About 50000 Tonsof Plastic waste material is accumulated every year.
As the local administration continues to battle the raging fire at the Brahmapuram waste plant, the irritating and poisonous smoke generated from there forced the state government on Saturday to urge the people of its neighbourhood to stay indoors as a precaution against the unhealthy smog.
