Madhya Pradesh High Court Orders Trial Disposal of Union Carbide's Toxic Waste
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Synopsis
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has mandated the state government to conduct a trial disposal of 340 tonnes of Union Carbide's toxic waste at Pithampura, with a report due by March 27. The waste has been stored for over 40 years since the Bhopal disaster.
Key Takeaways
- The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a trial disposal of toxic waste.
- 340 tonnes of Union Carbide waste are to be disposed of at Pithampura.
- Trial runs will test various disposal rates.
- The waste has been stored for over 40 years.
- Environmental impacts must be assessed during the trial.
Bhopal, Feb 18 (NationPress) The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday instructed the state government to initiate a trial disposal of 340 tonnes of Union Carbide toxic waste at Pithampura.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain urged the state government to adhere to the directives and submit a report by March 27.
This hazardous waste is currently stored at a private facility in the Tarpura village of the Pithampur Industrial area, which is in close proximity to Indore.
Previously, it had remained in a defunct unit of Union Carbide India Pvt Ltd in Bhopal for over 40 years, following the catastrophic incident on the night of December 2-3, 1984.
The incident is recognized as the worst industrial disaster in history, resulting in numerous fatalities and leaving thousands severely injured.
The trial process, as per government officials, will entail the disposal of a segment of this toxic waste at varying feed rates, including 90 kg/hour, 135 kg/hour, 180 kg/hour, or 270 kg/hour, in accordance with the stipulations set by the Central Pollution Control Board. Each trial run is estimated to last three to four days.
The state government, following the court's order, is required to evaluate the potential environmental and local repercussions of this waste during the trial.
As per the court directive issued on December 3, 2024, the state government reported that on the evening of January 1, 2025, the waste was safely loaded into 12 fireproof and leakproof containers.
These containers were transported using long-haul trailers, accompanied by police escorts and a dedicated team of doctors, fire brigade personnel, and skilled laborers.
The convoy was granted a green corridor, ensuring the transportation adhered to the approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and tender requirements, fully compliant with Central Pollution Control Board guidelines. However, public unrest was sparked by certain “fictitious” media reports.
On January 6, the court mandated the government to comply with its December 3, 2024 order and instructed the state government to “dispose of the same (toxic waste) as per norms”.
