Mumbai: BMC zeroes in on pond for future fire outbreak at Deonar dumpyard

Fighting fire for burning through millions of litres of drinking water to douse the blaze at the Deonar dumping ground, the BMC has finally decided to change its tack. It will no longer use drinking water to douse a fire at the dumping ground, as was highlighted in mid-day on March 23. Instead, water from a Chembur pond, maintained by the BMC and a popular idol immersion spot during Ganpati celebrations, will be sourced.

Ashish Talao in Chembur, from where water to contain any future fire outbreak at the Deonar dumping ground will be sourced. Pic/Datta Kumbhar

Beginning Saturday, pumps at the pond will be functional.

mid-day had on Wednesday put the spotlight on 98 water tankers being used to contain the Deonar fire even as Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan reel under an acute water crisis. Officials say the pond - Ashish Talao - is deep and has sufficient water. Kiran Dighawkar, M/East ward officer, said water from the pond will be used exclusively at the Deonar dumping ground. While the pond is currently under the charge of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers, the BMC has initiated measures to take it over to contain fires, he added. The BMC is also planning to dig a borewell at the Deonar dumping ground.

The BMC's standing committee meeting on Tuesday had seen an uproar over the use of drinking water to douse the fire at Deonar at a time when the city is facing a 15 per cent drop in water supply and a 20 per cent cut in water release timings.