In a significant decision on Thursday, the Madhya Pradesh High Court authorized the state government to proceed with the disposal of chemical waste from the now-defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. The court’s approval came after successful trial incinerations reported no adverse environmental impacts.
The disposal process, to be conducted at a specialized facility in Pithampur, Dhar district, must be completed within 72 days, as stated by a division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Kait and Justice Vivek Jain.
The court’s decision is a key milestone in addressing the remnants of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, one of the deadliest industrial disasters in history. This tragedy resulted in thousands of deaths and continuing health problems for the local population due to the leakage of highly toxic Methyl Isocyanate gas.
Following a writ petition filed by the late Alok Pratap Singh in 2004, the state has been grappling with the safe removal of the hazardous waste. In February, the court permitted the state to conduct a trial run at the Pithampur facility in three phases, which, according to the state’s affidavit, concluded successfully without any negative outcomes.
Additional Advocate General Harpreet Singh Ruprah informed that the waste would be incinerated at a rate of 270 kilograms per hour, as recommended by an expert committee overseeing the operation. “The incineration of waste will commence within a week and will be strictly monitored,” Ruprah added.
Despite opposition from local organizations concerned about potential health and environmental risks, the government has assured that all safety measures are in place. The court has also directed that any grievances from the community can be addressed directly to the state government for consideration.
