Newlinkroad's Blog

Yesterday evening my 12 year old son and I were passing along the Link Road from IC Colony towards Dahisar when we saw black smoke rising out from Gully no. 1 of Ganpat Patil Nagar.

We stopped and went in to see what was happening.

This is what we saw:   

Plastic and rubber waste from the garages around were being burnt, and black smoke was rising out.

There were many rickshaws parked around in various stages of repair.

My son and I went and asked them: Do you know that burning these things cause cancer and various other problems like cough, asthma and skin allergy, not only for you and your children but for residents in nearby areas like IC Colony?

They said they did not know.

I requested them to stop burning these things. Instead I suggested that they give it to the BMC. I saw a BMC clean up truck pass by the very same gully [road] even as I was speaking!

They agreed and asked someone nearby to bring water to douse the flames.

As soon as water was put thick white smoke billowed out. Soon the fire was put out.

All it took for us was three minutes, my son commented as we returned to the car.

Can you do it, dear reader? If you see smoke and people burning rubber or plastic, please step in and ask them to stop. For the sake of people around and your family?

The burning of rubber and plastic waste releases carcinogens into the air. It is banned by the High Court, and heavy penalty can be fined on people doing so. The least you can do it to talk to the people doing this, politely. All the best!