Has the Bhopal Gas Tragedy’s Toxic Waste Disposal Finally Been Completed?

Bhopal, June 30 (NationPress) After many years of uncertainty, the disposal of 307 tonnes of toxic waste (previously 347 tonnes) from the notorious Union Carbide factory, which was responsible for the Bhopal gas tragedy, has finally occurred. The Madhya Pradesh High Court had previously issued directives for the disposal to be completed within a maximum of 72 days.

“The process commenced on the evening of May 5 and was finalized on June 29 evening,” a senior official from the MP Pollution Control Board informed IANS.

The waste was incinerated at a private facility in Pithampur, located in the Dhar district near Indore, amidst local protests.

“The incineration operated at a consistent rate of 270 kilograms per hour at the facility, with robust environmental safeguards in place. A continuous online monitoring system was established to track emissions, ensuring adherence to pollution control regulations. The entire process spanned 50 days,” the official added.

To further reduce environmental risks, experts monitored four critical pollutants—particulate mercury, heavy matter, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide—released during the incineration.

Moreover, air quality monitoring stations were set up at three locations throughout Pithampur (near Indore). In addition to the existing station in Tarpura, new stations in Chirakhan and Bajrangpura were operationalized on May 4 to enhance monitoring.

In total, four monitoring systems were established, as noted by the officer.

The 1984 Bhopal gas disaster resulted in thousands of fatalities and numerous injuries when a hazardous gas, methyl-isocyanate, leaked from the factory during the night of December 2-3, 1984.

The toxic waste, which had been abandoned at the former Union Carbide site for nearly 40 years, was finally transported to Pithampur from Bhopal in January 2025.

In alignment with judicial orders, a phased trial run was executed prior to the full-scale disposal, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing effort to manage industrial contamination.

Following a successful trial run of the incineration, the Madhya Pradesh government submitted a status report to the High Court in Jabalpur, highlighting the successful completion.

Officials informed the court that the incineration process—anticipated to span 72 days—would be carried out under stringent guidelines set by the Central Pollution Control Board to safeguard public health.

Despite these assurances, activists representing survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy have expressed concerns regarding secondary pollution. They argue that incinerating 300 metric tonnes of toxic waste could result in about 900 metric tonnes of residue, posing further environmental risks if disposed of in a landfill.

As the hearing is scheduled for Monday, discussions regarding the long-term ecological implications of the waste disposal persist.