5 lakh litre water storage tank ready for use at Vellalore landfill to control fires
Coimbatore: A reservoir with a capacity of 5 lakh litres was set up at the Coimbatore Vellalore Garbage Depot last year to immediately extinguish any fire that could arise at the landfill.
The Vellalore landfill covers an area of 650 acres. About 800 to 900 tons of garbage collected from 100 wards in Coimbatore is dumped here everyday and recycled. Since there have been instances of frequent fires at the landfill due to the methane gas generated from the debris at the landfill, aided by the wind, the Coimbatore Corporation took the initiative to set up the 5 lakh litre storage tank.
Fires at the landfill which generally begin as small fires begin to spread like wildfire. Although no casualties have not been reported thus far, these fires which rage for more than two or three days cause smoke to billow across the area. With about 2,000 families living near the landfill, health hazards due to the smoke being emanated, especially keeping in mind the elderly and children, Corporation officials decided that a huge water storage tank was necessary.
"It takes half an hour for fire trucks to arrive, even if the fire is reported immediately. Due to this, the Corporation administration decided to set up a permanent reservoir at the Vellalore landfill to prevent fires from spreading. Following this, work on the construction of a reservoir with a capacity of 5 lakh litres was started and also completed last year. Purified water is brought to this reservoir from the Ukkadam Sewage Treatment Plant," explained Corporation officials.
The Vellalore landfill covers an area of 650 acres. About 800 to 900 tons of garbage collected from 100 wards in Coimbatore is dumped here everyday and recycled. Since there have been instances of frequent fires at the landfill due to the methane gas generated from the debris at the landfill, aided by the wind, the Coimbatore Corporation took the initiative to set up the 5 lakh litre storage tank.
Fires at the landfill which generally begin as small fires begin to spread like wildfire. Although no casualties have not been reported thus far, these fires which rage for more than two or three days cause smoke to billow across the area. With about 2,000 families living near the landfill, health hazards due to the smoke being emanated, especially keeping in mind the elderly and children, Corporation officials decided that a huge water storage tank was necessary.
"It takes half an hour for fire trucks to arrive, even if the fire is reported immediately. Due to this, the Corporation administration decided to set up a permanent reservoir at the Vellalore landfill to prevent fires from spreading. Following this, work on the construction of a reservoir with a capacity of 5 lakh litres was started and also completed last year. Purified water is brought to this reservoir from the Ukkadam Sewage Treatment Plant," explained Corporation officials.