Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday (January 1, 2024) said that disposal of the toxic waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal will not have a negative impact on the environment in Pithampur where it is to be incinerated.

Chemical waste weighing 337 tonnes had been lying in the factory premises, where the Bhopal gas tragedy of December 1984 broke out. It was transported to Pithampur, an industrial town 35 km from Indore, for disposal at an incineration facility. However, residents and activists have long protested against shifting the waste to Pithampur in Dhar district, raising apprehensions of contamination of soil and water bodies.

Bhopal gas tragedy toxic waste shifted from Union Carbide factory for disposal after 40 years

The Chief Minister said the waste is being disposed of in Pithampur as per the directions of courts and that it will be incinerated using scientific methods after consultations with various departments and research institutes.

“This waste contains 60% soil and 40% waste related to naphthalene and other types of chemicals. Naphthalene is a co-product from making pesticides, and according to scientists, its effect vanishes in 25 years. As 40 years have passed since the incident, the apprehensions being raised regarding the disposal of the waste automatically vanish,” he said addressing a press conference.

Mr. Yadav said that Minister in-charge of Dhar district Kailash Vijayvargiya will talk to all the local public representatives, apprise them of the process and take them into confidence.

M.P. government begins disposal of Union Carbide toxic waste; to be moved to Pithampur soon

“For the last 40 years, the people of Bhopal have been living with this waste. Many of the Government of India’s organisations were involved in the disposal of this toxic waste. Earlier, 10 MT waste was incinerated in Pithampur as a trial run in 2015 and the report of it prepared in the presence of scientists was presented before the Supreme Court,” he further said.

“The report revealed that the disposal of the hazardous waste has no impact on the environment. After detailed analysis of the reports, the M.P. High Court directed to incinerate the remaining hazardous waste,” he added.

The Chief Minister also said that in the near future, the government will work to dispose of the remaining waste lying in the Union Carbide premises.

Mr. Yadav targeted the Opposition Congress accusing it of doing politics over the issue.

Petition in M.P. High Court to halt transfer of Union Carbide waste to Pithampur near Indore

On Wednesday (January 1, 2024) night, 12 trucks carrying spill-free containers carrying the waste left from the Union Carbide premises in Bhopal amid heavy security. Travelling via a 250-km green corridor, the trucks reached Pithampur around 4 a.m. on Thursday (January 2, 2024).

The infamous Bhopal gas tragedy, on the night of December 2 and 3 in 1984, killed 5,479 people after highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide unit. As per government estimates, the tragedy also disabled and had serious health implications on more than five lakh people over the years.

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