KMC looks to ensure non-recurrence of methane gas mishap at Tangra

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to take measures to prevent blowing open of manhole lids due to explosion of methane gas in underground sewerage lines.

Six manhole lids were flung open, causing alarm among local residents at Gobinda Khatik Road in Tangra on June 6.

Several cracks also developed on the road due to the explosion and the civic body took up repair work on war footing to mend it in around 12 hours.

Member, Mayor-in-Council (Drainage) Tarak Singh held a

meeting at the civic body, with senior officials of Road, Solid Waste Management (SWM) and

Drainage department to review

the incident and take steps to

prevent similar occurrences in future.

The civic body officials are of the opinion that methane gas formed

in sewerage lines under the manholes sometimes fail to come out due to the manhole lids getting choked with asphalt while road construction.

"We have instructed engineers of the Road department to be careful enough to see that there is minimum gap in the manhole lid

for methane gas to escape.

"Employees of SWM have been instructed that while undertaking daily cleaning work they will inform the KMC of any asphalt blocking the lid of manholes," a senior KMC official said.

Common people, if they come across any such case, may also inform the KMC control room

so that action can be taken immediately.

Local councillor and Member, Mayor-in-Council (Environment) Swapan Samaddar, while commenting on the Tangra incident, said there was a brick

sewerage line under the road through which water along

with garbage is pumped out from

the Palmerbazar sewerage pumping station to Chowbhaga pumping station.

Methane gas was formed as garbage got stuck in the sewerage line, leading to the explosion.