Establishment of a Green Corridor for Transportation of Hazardous Waste from UCIL Bhopal to Pithampur
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Bhopal, Dec 31 (NationPress) Over 12 containers, containing around 337 tonnes of hazardous waste, will travel from the premises of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) to the Pithampur area near Indore, supported by a dedicated green corridor.
These containers will collectively traverse a distance of approximately 250 km from the UCIL site to their destination in Pithampur.
The process of preparing and loading the hazardous waste began on Sunday and is currently ongoing.
The waste will be transported to Pithampur Industrial Waste Management Pvt. Ltd..
Officials from the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department indicated that the containers will commence their journey once the loading operations are finalized.
Waste packaging is conducted in airtight bags and containers, under stringent security measures and close supervision from senior officials, ensuring the safety of all workers involved. Access to all roads leading to the abandoned UCIL site has been prohibited.
The transfer of waste to Pithampur in Dhar district is anticipated to occur shortly, as the state government is required to submit an affidavit to the High Court in Jabalpur by January 3.
This initiative to dispose of toxic waste follows an order from the Madhya Pradesh High Court issued on December 3, which provided the state government a three-week timeframe to complete the disposal process.
Significantly, this waste has been stored at the UCIL site since the Bhopal gas tragedy occurred on the night of December 2 and 3, 1984, when a lethal gas, methyl isocyanate, escaped from the factory, resulting in the deaths of 5,479 individuals, according to government estimates.
Further government data reveals that the disaster resulted in numerous disabilities and severe health consequences for over 500,000 individuals over the years.
In a related development, a group of doctors based in Indore filed a petition with the MP High Court on Monday, arguing that the incineration of the toxic waste in Pithampur could pose health risks to residents in both Pithampur and Indore, located approximately 35 km away from the industrial area.
These doctors have requested an urgent hearing on the issue, although the court has yet to schedule a hearing date.
