Madhya Pradesh High Court to Address Union Carbide Waste Disposal Concerns on Monday

The Madhya Pradesh High Court is set to address the disposal of Union Carbide waste on Monday. This waste, transported from Bhopal to Dhar district, has sparked significant protests, including two self-immolation attempts. The court's website indicated that Chief Justice SK Kait and Justice Vivek Jain will hear the case on January 6. Previously, the court criticised authorities for their inaction regarding the waste at the defunct Bhopal factory.

On December 3, during a prior hearing, the court expressed concern over the authorities' "state of inertia" even 40 years after the gas disaster. It warned that this could lead to another tragedy. The court had instructed the government to remove and transport the waste within four weeks, threatening contempt proceedings if not complied with. This directive was part of a writ petition filed in 2004 concerning the disposal of waste from the Union Carbide plant.

Protests and Government Response

Two days ago, two individuals attempted self-immolation during protests against disposing of Carbide material at Pithampur, near Indore. Protesters argue that this disposal poses risks to human health and the environment. In response, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Chief Secretary Anurag Jain stated they would request more time from the High Court due to these protests. They also assured that public opinion would be considered before proceeding with waste disposal.

Senior advocate Naman Nagrath, representing petitioner Alok Pratap Singh, emphasised involving the public in this process. He suggested testing the waste to assess its current toxicity levels and making these results public to reassure people. "I feel that there is no toxicity left in the waste," he said, adding that after 40 years, any remaining toxicity might have significantly diminished.

Legal Proceedings and Historical Context

ND Jayaprakash, co-convener of ‘Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsha Sahayog Samiti’, plans to present submissions in Jabalpur on Monday. He mentioned filing an application for a meeting involving all concerned parties, including representatives of Bhopal gas leak victims and residents near Pithampur. In 2009, the MP High Court directed incineration of toxic waste in Gujarat or Maharashtra. However, objections from these states led to a Supreme Court stay on those directives.

The Union Carbide disaster occurred on December 2-3, 1984, when methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide factory in Bhopal. This incident resulted in at least 5,479 deaths and left thousands with severe injuries and long-term health issues. The ongoing legal battle aims to address the disposal of leftover toxic waste from this catastrophic event.

Future Steps for Waste Disposal

Before the waste reached Dhar district last Thursday, Swatantra Kumar Singh from the state's Gas Relief and Rehabilitation Department stated that if conditions were favourable, incineration would occur within three months. If not, it might take up to nine months due to slower burning processes. This statement came before protests erupted in response to the waste's arrival.

The High Court's decision on Monday will be crucial in determining how authorities proceed with disposing of Union Carbide's hazardous waste while addressing public concerns and ensuring safety measures are in place.