Synopsis
The Bhopal gas tragedy's toxic waste will be incinerated over 72 days at a rate of 270 kg per hour. The Madhya Pradesh government confirmed the trial run's success, while NGOs raised concerns about potential pollution from the resulting waste.Key Takeaways
- Toxic waste incineration to occur in 72 days.
- Burning rate set at 270 kg per hour.
- Trial run conducted successfully per court orders.
- NGOs express concerns over pollution from waste.
- Remnants from incineration to be landfilled.
Bhopal, March 27 (NationPress) The toxic waste resulting from the Bhopal gas tragedy is set to be incinerated within 72 days, operating at a burning rate of 270 kg per hour at a private facility located in Pithampur, Indore.
On Thursday, the state government presented a status report regarding the ‘trial run’ to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur, before a bench led by Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain.
According to a well-informed official who spoke to IANS, “The government provided the court with an update on the trial run and confirmed that it was completed successfully in compliance with court orders. The entire toxic waste, which had been transported from Bhopal to Pithampur, Indore, will now undergo incineration at a rate of 270 kg per hour over the next 72 days.”
The case is scheduled for another hearing on June 30. Officials mentioned that the court has mandated the government to manage the disposal of the toxic waste in accordance with the Central Pollution Control Board guidelines, ensuring that the general public faces no risk.
After 40 years, the waste was removed from the abandoned site of Union Carbide India Pvt Limited (owned by American Union Carbide Corporation) and transported to Pithampur, located 230 kilometers from Bhopal, in January of this year. A trial run has recently been conducted in four phases, following court orders.
The 1984 Bhopal gas disaster resulted in the tragic loss of thousands of lives and left many others injured due to a leakage of the toxic gas methyl isocyanate from the factory during the night of December 2-3, 1984. The hazardous waste has remained at the factory since that time.
In the meantime, non-governmental organizations advocating for the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy have urged the court to consider their perspective as well. “We have requested the court to recognize that the 300 metric tons of toxic waste will exacerbate the issue, as it will convert into 900 metric tons after incineration. The remnants of the burned toxic waste will be disposed of in a landfill, leading to increased pollution,” stated Rachna Dhingra, a leading activist from the Bhopal Group for Information and Action.
