Bhopal gas tragedy: 40 years later, the proof process of burning carbide factory for the union begins

The process for the first proof incineration round of 10 tons of waste related to the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy has begun in Pithampur in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday in the midst of tense security, authorities said. Previously, the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the order of the Superior Court of MP that directed the transfer and elimination of waste in a plant operated by the private company in Pithampur. A Bank of Judges Br Gavai and Ag Masih also refused to remain in the provision of Thursday’s trial.

The SC requested the harmed parties, including members of civil society organizations that oppose waste elimination, which will approach MP HC, which is listening to the case.

After Apex’s court order, security has been improved at the elimination site with the deployment of 500 people from 24 police stations, said an official. High police officers and civic administration are present at the site, he added.

“The test process has begun before burning union carbide factory waste in the waste disposal unit in Pithampur. The waste containers are opening and the waste is transported to the plant according to the established parameters,” said the Commissioner of the Indore Deepak Singh division.

“The plant is being prepared to burn waste and I think that probably from Friday morning, 10 tons of waste will begin to burn as a test in the presence of scientists from the control joints of central and state pollution. The plant has a system that will close immediately if the gas emission exceeds the limit prescribed during burning,” said Singh. Meanwhile, those who oppose the disposal of the waste said they would touch the doors of the HC. “The movement (against burning) will continue. We will present our case strongly in HC. We will talk to the people of Pithampur,” said the protester Sandeep Raghuvanshi. On the intermediate night of December 2 and 3, 1984, the highly poisonous methyl gas (MIC) leaked from the Carbide Carabas factory in Bhopal. At least 5,479 people were killed and thousands were listed. It is considered one of the world’s largest industrial disasters.

The officials transported 337 tons of waste from the union carbide factory in the capital of MP to an installation in Pithampur, about 250 km away, on January 2 as part of a plan to get rid of the material.

On January 6, the HC had ordered the state government to take measures within six weeks to get rid of waste following security guidelines. In his order of February 18, the president of the MP Southern Justice Kumar Kait and Judge Vivek Jain had ordered the state government to undertake “first test of 10 metric tons by taking into account all the protocols” on February 27.

“If there is no adverse effect, the second execution of the test will take place on March 4, followed by the third essay executed on March 10. From then on, according to their results, after the proper evidence, they will continue to undone of the remaining waste and present the state report,” said the HC.

During the hearing, the MP government said it can take three four days to get rid of the first shipment of 10 tons of waste. Since the waste was taken to Pithampur, there have been several protests in this industrial area.

Protesters have expressed apprehensions for damage to the human population and the environment due to the elimination of this waste, which the state government has completely rejected.

The state government says that there are solid agreements in the Pithampur unit for the safe elimination of carbide waste. He had also organized ‘Jan Samvad’ programs in Pithampur and his surrounding places to spread awareness about the waste disposal process.

According to the state government, the waste includes the soil of the Bhopal factory now Shut, residues of reactors, residues of Sevin (pesticides), naphthale waste and “semiprocessed” waste.

The State Pollution Control Board says that according to scientific evidence, the effect of Sevin and Naphthale in this waste has now become “almost insignificant.”

According to the pollution control board, there is no existence of isocianate gas or radioactive particles of any kind in this waste.