1234 Kolkata: A team of experts who visited the Belgachia Trenching Ground on Sunday issued a warning about an impending disaster at the landfill site if urgent measures are not implemented. The mountain of garbage, towering over 150 feet, far exceeds the soil's load-bearing capacity, creating an unstable and hazardous environment. Scientists highlighted that trapped methane gas within the landfill is continuously self-igniting, leading to the formation of dangerous voids inside the garbage mound, heightening the risk of sudden collapses.
KMDA will start work on raising the site with sturdy poles and conduct bio-mining from Monday, Howrah DM P Deepapriya said. The DM said four scientists from JU visited the landfill and recommended using bio-mining to quickly extract biogas. Also, they collected soil samples. Based on the analysis, they will determine how many people need to be relocated and what further measures should be taken. The DM said based on their advice, KMDA will commence work on Monday. An alternative site for the landfill will also be sought, he added.
The landfill holds an estimated 10 lakh tonnes of legacy waste and originally spanned 90 acres. However, due to years of steady encroachment, it has now shrunk to just 50 acres, putting nearby settlements at grave risk. Cracks have appeared on the land where residents live, indicating severe ground instability due to excessive pressure on the terrain.
Leading the team of scientists from the International Society of Waste Management, Air, and Water, professor Sadhan Kumar Ghosh warned of catastrophic consequences if immediate action is not taken. Speaking to TOI, he outlined four urgent measures — recommended to Sujoy Chakraborty, chairman of Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) — to avert a potential tragedy.
These include immediate closure of the landfill, controlled access to the site, , rehabilitation of affected residents and restoration of Pacha Khal — this crucial canal, which once drained wastewater into the Ganges, is now choked with debris after a partial landfill collapse. The risk of flooding has increased significantly, threatening nearby areas with widespread inundation.
Ghosh also emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive waste management policy. "Unfortunately, we do not have a proper waste management framework. It is high time the city adopts a ward-wise decentralized waste management system, which would eliminate the need for massive centralized landfill sites."
Scientists conducted soil and gas tests at the site, revealing dangerous levels of methane accumulation underground. Years of unregulated dumping of organic and inorganic waste, combined with poor maintenance, left the ground dangerously hollow and unstable.The Ganga's proximity has exacerbated the crisis. Water seepage has softened soil further, increasing the chances of a large-scale landslide within a 1 to 1.5-kilometre radius. Experts warn that such a collapse could trigger a catastrophic environmental and humanitarian crisis.Adding to the peril, methane emissions from the landfill have severely deteriorated air quality in surrounding areas.Scientist Sujeeb Kar said decaying animal carcasses in the landfill intensified methane production, further weakening the soil and making the site highly unstable.