BMC directs agencies to take steps to prevent gas leak incidents

MUMBAI: After citizens in Mumbai raised complaints over suspicious gas leak in the city last month, a meeting of all concerned agencies was held in the headquarters of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to discuss the problem and find suitable solutions.

The fire department has been directed by the BMC to procure gas detector balloons and similar equipment to detect the presence of pollutants in the air. The equipment will be installed in all BMC ward offices, fire stations and engines. The BMC has directed agencies that transport hazardous chemicals to install vehicle tracking systems in all vehicles carrying toxic or hazardous material. The drivers of such vehicles will have to be trained in disaster management as well.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the BMC, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Rashtriya Chemical Fertilisers, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, and experts from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).

Several Mumbaikars in eastern and western suburbs reported of a strong odour emanating from their surroundings on September 19. This is when the residents called the police, fire and disaster management cells of the city. Nine fire engines and a Hazmat vehicle were pressed into action and teams from the Mahanagar Gas Limited were deployed following the complaints. However, the source of the odour could not be found.

“We have not been able to find out the source of the odour, the type of gas or what caused it. We will be issuing a notice to all these agencies with the measures that need to be taken to prevent such incidents,” a senior civic official said.