CO2 overdose

The amount of carbon dioxide that was released into the atmosphere, thanks to the thick, black smoke billowing from the Nandaram Market for over a week, could well be more than the quantity emitted in a month.

“The magnitude of the fire is bound to create environmental disorder, especially in the winter months. The problem is further complicated as Burrabazar is a highly congested area,” said Kolkata-based environmentalist Subhas Dutta.

Subrata Saha, a saree trader whose shop on Jamnalal Bajaj Street is about five-six buildings away from the Nandaram Market, recounted his woes.

“I was unable to open shop when the fire was raging as the fumes were unbearable. I did try on the second day after the fire started but could not sit through it as my eyes started burning,” he said.

NEERI check

“We monitored the air quality in the area and found the Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), Respiratory Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) and oxides of nitrogen to be in significantly higher quantities than normal,” said Regional Director of National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Anjali Srivastava.

Srivastava also expressed concern over the high levels of phosphate, sulphate and other toxic elements found in the sewerage water of the area.

Environmentalists believe that the high chemical-level has resulted from water, which used in dousing the fire, subsequently flowing into the local drainage system.

Many are of the opinion that these effluents might flow into the nearby Hooghly river and create an ecological imbalance.

Dutta said the amount of ash, which is bound to fly around in the air now, will prolong the problem.

Debris debate

One of the contractors engaged by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to clear the debris after demolition of the building, on condition of anonymity, said: “Only that debris required to be sent for forensic investigation was cleared. All the rest, including burnt remains of canvas and tarpaulin, is still lying there only.”

Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, however, had a different take on the issue.

“Almost all the debris has been cleared and the report from the forensic examination has arrived,” he said.