NGOs misguiding people on Union Carbide wastes: BEIL chief

Ahmedabad, May 28 (UNI) NGOs are misguiding people on the issue of waste from Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, according to the chairman of a waste incineration unit.

Bharuch Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (BEIL) Chairman Rajiv Shroff told mediapersons today that the company was ready to treat wastes from the Union Carbide plant, that has been lying there since 1984.

However, he said, ''Some NGOs are saying that treating the waste could spread cancer among local people.'' Mr Shroff, also the Chairman of United Phosphorus Ltd with a major equity holding in BEIL, said BEIL's state-of-the art common incineration system that was set up with co-operation of State government and the Centre in 2005, has treated and disposed off 13,000 metric tonnes of solid waste, liquid waste and sludge in the plant safely.

The request to treat the waste lying in Union Carbide plant has come from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat governments, he said. ''The wastes that are lying in bags in MP for the last 23 years could be treated at BEIL for Rs 90 lakh while some irresponsible environmentalists want it to be treated in the US where it would cost up to Rs 10 crore,'' he said.

''India is very advanced in chemicals, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals and this incinerator has successfully treated 13,000 tonnes of waste from all the industries. Last year, 8,000 MT of hazardous wastes were treated. This year, we would be treating 10,000 MT,'' he said.

For us the Bhopal waste is like any other waste and we would treat in seven to 10 days. There is no killer gas methyl isocyanate (MIC) present in the Bhopal wastes. 350 tonnes would be easy for us, Mr Shroff said.

The incinerator, set up at a cost of Rs 17 crore, is operated at over 1,100 degrees celsius to ensure complete destruction of organic waste.

UNI