Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Trial Incineration of Union Carbide Waste Commences After 40 Years

The initial trial incineration of 10 tonnes of waste linked to the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy has commenced in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh. This operation is under tight security, as confirmed by officials. The Supreme Court had earlier declined to intervene in the Madhya Pradesh High Court's directive for waste disposal at a private facility in Pithampur.

Security measures have been heightened at the disposal site, with 500 personnel from 24 police stations deployed. Senior police and civic officials are also present. The waste includes soil from the closed Bhopal factory, reactor residue, Sevin pesticide residue, naphthal residue, and semi-processed residue. The State Pollution Control Board states that Sevin and naphthal effects are now negligible.

Waste Disposal Process

The pollution control board's regional officer, Srinivas Dwivedi, explained that five types of waste from the Union Carbide factory will be mixed appropriately at Pithampur's plant. Ten tonnes will be incinerated after preheating the incinerator to 850 degrees Celsius. The process is expected to start between 10-11 am on Friday and will take about 72 hours to complete.

Before incineration begins, testing is underway at the Pithampur plant. Waste containers are opened and transported according to set parameters. Indore division commissioner Deepak Singh stated that if gas emissions exceed limits during burning, the plant will automatically shut down.

Legal and Public Response

The Supreme Court advised those opposing the waste disposal to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which is handling the case. Protesters like Sandeep Raghuvanshi plan to continue their movement against the disposal and present their case strongly in court.

The MP government has assured that all safety measures are in place for safe disposal at Pithampur. They conducted Jan Samvad programmes in Pithampur and surrounding areas to raise awareness about the process. Despite protests expressing concerns about environmental harm, the government maintains that safety protocols are being followed.

Historical Context

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy occurred on December 2-3, 1984, when methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. This disaster resulted in at least 5,479 deaths and thousands of injuries, marking it as one of the world's worst industrial disasters.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court had instructed the state government on January 6 to dispose of the waste within six weeks while adhering to safety guidelines. On February 18, Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain ordered a trial run of 10 metric tonnes on February 27, with subsequent trials planned if no adverse effects occur.

The waste was transported from Bhopal to Pithampur on January 2 for disposal. The MP government estimates it may take three to four days to dispose of the first batch of waste. Despite protests in Pithampur over potential environmental risks, authorities assert that all necessary precautions are being taken.