04/02/2021
Fire at Bakoteh Dumpsite on January 27, 2021
Public Statement – Feb. 1, 2021
Good morning ladies and gentlemen,
On Wednesday, January 27th around Noon, a fire was started at Bakoteh dumpsite in Zone 3. Council staff and Municipal Police stationed on-site rushed into action to use standby water to quell the fire, while mobilizing support from Fire Services, KMC’s Department of Services, as well as private tankers. The efforts of these noble individuals played a vital role in extinguishing the fire. At the height of the emergency, the smoke was felt up to 10 kilometres away from the site – reaching communities as far away as Old Yundum, Brufut and Bijilo.
By Thursday morning, the rapid response of the joint taskforce quelled the fire and by-and-large contained the smoke to the perimeter of the site. Over the past 4 days, officers remain on-site to monitor the situation and contain the smoke.
In the past, fires at Bakoteh dumpsite have persisted for weeks on end. The Bakoteh dumpsite management team of KMC have taken measures to create “fire belts” on the site in an effort to contain fires to a single zone. The Bakoteh dumpsite is now divided into 6 zones with the latest emergency occurring in Zone 3. This intervention by KMC enabled the joint taskforce to better control last week’s fire.
The Council has committed tens of millions of Dalasi to the management of Bakoteh dumpsite over the past 3 years. Last year, the Council spent over 6.5 million Dalasi to manage and maintain Bakoteh dumpsite.
Construction is currently ongoing for a 9 million Dalasi perimeter fence to fully secure Bakoteh dumpsite. The fence, which is entirely financed by the Council’s own capital development budget, measures 3.5 metres high and 1,770 metres long. The perimeter fence will eliminate trespassers at Bakoteh dumpsite who pose a risk to starting fires on site. By securing the site, children will be protected from entering the site and being exposed to unwanted health hazards. The construction of the fence is 40 percent complete and expected to be completed in the next 3 months.
Later this month, the Council will launch a 48 million Dalasi joint project with SOS Children’s Village to upgrade infrastructure on site, including access roads, fire hydrants, boreholes, solar lighting, security equipment, and hangers for sorting recyclable material.
Over the past two years, the Council has engaged private sector partners to introduce formal waste processing at Bakoteh dumpsite. KMC’s Taskforce on Waste Processing came to an agreement with one company – Trisp - to develop bio-gas. Unfortunately, this partner was unable to begin operations, due to a lack of financing resulting from the COVID-19 global economic downturn. The Council continues to search for fit-for-purpose solutions to formalize waste processing on-site.
When I came into office in 2018, I was fully aware that Bakoteh dumpsite was the greatest challenge facing KMC. Since then, it has become clear that Bakoteh dumpsite is a problem without borders. Last week’s fire and its smoke shows that Bakoteh dumpsite is a national issue that is not contained to Kanifing municipality.
In May 2018, the Council was honoured to host the President of the Republic during the annual Meet the People Tour for a site visit to Bakoteh dumpsite. During this visit, His Excellency promised to establish a taskforce to relocate the dumpsite. The lack of feedback and action on this important commitment is of great concern to the Council.
Over the past 3 years, I have written to the Minister of Lands and Regional Government appealing for action to identify an alternative site for the development of a sanitary landfill. On March 16th 2020, I requested the Minister allocate alternative land for dumping. Again, on November 2nd 2020, I warned the Minister of the Bakoteh dumpsite reaching capacity and the need to identify an alternative site.
KMC is committed to working through the Inter-Municipal Committee on Waste Management, along with Banjul City Council and Brikama Area Council, under the chair of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, to establish the technical requirements of an alternative location. The Inter-Municipal Committee has shortlisted potential locations and conducted site visits on the matter. The recommendations of the Inter-Municipal Committee require immediate action from the Ministry of Lands.
I am calling directly on the Minister of Lands to take immediate action to allocate an alternative location within the Greater Banjul Area for the development of a sanitary landfill in order to enable the complete closure of Bakoteh dumpsite.
Waste management is not a political issue, but a national issue.
Before I conclude, I would like to speak directly to the people of Bakoteh, Dippa K***a, Manjai K***a, and by extension those living further afar who were affected by the smoke last week. I sincerely sympathise with you and the adverse impact of the dumpsite on you and your families. I am committed to finding a solution that will close Bakoteh dumpsite in the shortest possible time. The Council is constructing a 3.5 metres tall fence, in order to protect children from entering the site and being exposed to its many hazards. The fence will ensure that once the dumpsite is closed that unlawful individuals will not be able to enter or dump at the site.
I encourage all concerned community members to show their support and add their voice to ensure that the Government of The Gambia treats the closure of Bakoteh dumpsite as a national issue.
Together, we can solve this issue.
TALIB AHMED BENSOUDA
lets recognize his efforts towards the nation development