Madhya Pradesh HC Allows ‘Trial Run’ Of Union Carbide Waste Disposal At Pithampur Facility

Madhya Pradesh High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday has authorized the state government to proceed with a controlled trial run of hazardous chemical waste originating from the defunct Union Carbide facility in Bhopal.

This toxic material, which has remained untreated for four decades, will be disposed of in a phased manner at the Pithampur waste management facility in Dhar district.

Advocate General Prashant Singh delineated the structured execution of the incineration, which is scheduled to unfold in three phases commencing on February 27.

The government, in compliance with the court’s directive issued in January, has submitted a detailed report outlining public awareness measures undertaken to inform local communities about the disposal process.

Despite these efforts, the initiative has encountered substantial resistance from residents of Pithampur, who have raised significant concerns regarding the potential environmental and public health ramifications of disposing of such hazardous waste in their vicinity. The chemical remnants in question are directly linked to the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy, one of the most devastating industrial disasters in history, which resulted in over 5,000 fatalities.

In response to public opposition, the government has reassured the court that comprehensive awareness campaigns will precede the trial incineration.

Under the proposed methodology, each phase of the trial will involve the disposal of 10 metric tons of hazardous waste. The first phase will be conducted at an incineration rate of 135 kilograms per hour, escalating to 180 kilograms per hour in the second phase and 270 kilograms per hour in the third phase.

Pursuant to judicial directives, the initial trial run is set for February 27, followed by the second phase on March 4, while the date for the third phase remains undetermined. The results of these incineration trials will be submitted to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which will then determine the optimal ‘feed rate’ for the comprehensive disposal of the remaining waste.

A total of 337 metric tons of hazardous waste from the Union Carbide plant has already been transported to the Pithampur disposal facility.

The state government is expected to present a final compliance report to the High Court on March 27, detailing the outcomes of the incineration trials and the subsequent directives issued by the CPCB.