MUMBAI:  Following the Deonar dump, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) solid waste management authorities plan to dig gas wells at the Mulund dumping ground too, including creating vents in the garbage mounds for flaring methane out systematically, and dumping debris over the garbage, for first trapping methane in.

Three consecutive fires had erupted at the Mulund dump in the last one month, out of which two were on Monday and Tuesday night, and one on March 20. The BMC initially created the first ten methane outlets or vents at Deonar dumping ground, and now it plans to increase these to 25.

“At the Deonar dump, we initially began by digging five gas wells and have now dug 10. These have been dug towards the Babanagar side.We plan to increase the number of vents in Deonar by 15. At Mulund too, we plan to use the same technique to trap methane.”

The ministry of environment, forest and climate change report on the Deonar dump had infact suggested that arrangements be made for venting or flaring of methane gas. “Since the generation of methane (having low explosive limit with respect to temperature) in huge quantity of dumps could have potential to trigger fires with a rise in temperature, arrangements should be made for venting flaring utilization of the methane gas from the huge heaps, depending on its quantity after closing as stated below, with proper study,” the report stated.

The BMC has said that all debris from municipal work in the city will to be taken to Deonar and laid on the garbage piles. This, it felt, will help to cut methane from coming in contact with oxygen, which is generally the cause for the recurrent fires. Presently, over 50 trucks carrying debris are taken to the Deonar dump.

The process of venting involves digging well like structures in the mounds of garbage, and fitting pipes in them that are long enough to release the methane directly into the atmosphere, five feet away from the garbage’s surface. When methane is given out into the atmosphere, it converts to carbon-dioxide, which is 23 times less poisonous than methane. Hence, this is a safe mechanism. These vents will be covered with screens to prevent anything from falling in them and choking the vent.