40 years of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Disposal of 337 MT of toxic waste from Union Carbide factory begins
   Date :30-Dec-2024

The process of removal of toxic waste
 The process of removal of toxic waste kept in the warehouse of Union Carbide factory in progress.
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
On Sunday, a team of experts started loading the waste into 12 containers, taking extreme precautions to ensure safety. These containers will be transported to Pithampur by January 3, via a specially created ‘green corridor’ to ensure smooth and uninterrupted movement. More than 100 police officers are overseeing security of the operation, while over 400 personnel, including experts, Government officials, and medical staff are involved in the task.
 
 
The long-awaited process of disposing of 337 metric tonnes of toxic waste, associated with 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy has officially begun. This hazardous waste, currently stored at Union Carbide factory, is being transferred to an industrial waste disposal facility in Pithampur, near Indore. On Sunday, a team of experts started loading the waste into 12 containers, taking extreme precautions to ensure safety. These containers will be transported to Pithampur by January 3, via a specially created ‘green corridor’ to ensure smooth and uninterrupted movement. More than 100 police officers are overseeing security of the operation, while over 400 personnel, including experts, Government officials, and medical staff are involved in the task. The waste is linked to tragic gas leak of methyl isocyanate that occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, which caused one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the history. The Madhya Pradesh High Court had expressed dissatisfaction over delay in removing hazardous waste and had instructed the State Government to initiate disposal process within four weeks.
 
The court has set a final deadline for removal by January 6, with the Government required to submit a progress report by January 3. A 250-kilometer-long ‘green corridor’ has been established for safe transportation of the waste, which will be incinerated at Ramky Environmental facility in Pithampur. Strict measures will be taken during the incineration process to ensure that no harmful residuals remain. If all goes according to plan, the disposal should be completed within three months. However, if complications arise, process could take up to nine months. A four-stage filtration system will be used to minimise any potential air pollution caused by incineration, and the ash produced will be safely sealed in a landfill to prevent contact with soil and water. Some local residents and environmental activists have voiced concerns about potential contamination of the soil and water in Pithampur, based on past waste disposal incidents. However, the Gas Relief and Rehabilitation Department has assured that after careful review and investigation, all necessary precautions have been taken to safely dispose of the waste in Pithampur.