40 tonnes waste removed from Carbide factory

Bhopal, July 1 (UNI) In compliance of a High Court directive, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department has removed about 40 tonnes of lime sludge from the now-closed Union Carbide factory premises and the waste was subsequently disposed of at Pithampur Industrial Area by the Madhya Pradesh Waste Management Project and Ramky Enviro Engineers India, official sources said.

Former chief minister Babulal Gaur, now in charge of the Department, inspected the factory premises today and directed the Department's Director G T Ekka to submit a report -- in a week -- after analysing the potable water being supplied to 14 affected settlements.

''The sludge and soil were trucked off on June 27 and the exercise monitored by experts and officials. The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute submitted a report that the waste was not harmful to humans,'' Mr Ekka informed the Minister.

The chemical waste was being packed since 2005. On March 19, 2008, the Court directed that the removal should begin by June 30.

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