A village called Lakshmipura is situated in Anekal, which is 25 km south of Bengaluru is practically sitting on a gas cylinder. Any crevices on the land are spewing out flammable gas that ignites at a touch of match-stick. People are actually boiling water and cooking rice and egg in aluminium utensils by simply lighting a match on the ground.
Are you wondering how that happened? Here are few points that will help you understand the science behind this whole process.
1. What exactly is happening in the village?
That land is basically emitting out highly combustible and toxic gas, Methane. It bubbles out of any possible land openings and ends up boiling the collected rain water and creates heat waves.
2. How did Methane get under the ground?
The village acts as a dumping ground for the cities situated nearby. After dumping organic waste there, authorities pile layers of soil on it to flatten the earth. Although, the site was meant for non-degradable waste such as plastic and e-waste but instead organic waste was dumped. Once the area was covered with soil, the degradable waste inside started decaying and produced Methane.
3. Why Is The Land Becoming Combustible?
Since the gas is trapped inside the land with all the buried waste, it will naturally find ways to come out. The recent rain gave it that option by coming out of crevices.
4. How has it affected the environment?
The Methane has caused contamination of underground water up to a 2km radius and increased temperatures in the area over the past six months.
5. What are authorities doing to control the damage?
- Earthmovers were brought and 8-9 spots, where the gas was coming out were dug out to pour in effective microbial solution. At least 10,000 litres have to be pumped in so that the waste inside dissolves
- A large number of saplings need to be planted to accelerate the decomposition of waste. BBMP officials said up to 3,000 trees will be planted in coming months.
News Source: The Times Of India