Bhopal: Forty years after the devastating Bhopal gas tragedy, the world’s worst industrial disaster, the issue of hazardous waste disposal at the abandoned Union Carbide factory remains unresolved. Despite ₹126 crore allocated by the Central government to Madhya Pradesh for waste disposal, 337 metric tonnes of toxic material continue to languish in storage.
The tragedy unfolded on the night of December 2-3, 1984, when a leak of highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas claimed 5,479 lives and left over five lakh people injured. Today, an additional 1.1 million tonnes of contaminated soil and waste lie in and around the factory, polluting water sources and endangering surrounding communities.
Decades of Inaction and Controversy
Social activists and local organizations have long criticized the delay in addressing the hazardous waste. ND Jayaprakash of the Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsha Sahayog Samiti noted that the Madhya Pradesh High Court expressed displeasure over the delay during a hearing in September. The court urged the MP Pollution Board chairman to expedite the cleanup process.
In 2012, the Supreme Court acknowledged the contamination of groundwater in 22 nearby communities and ordered the state to provide clean drinking water. However, the cleanup efforts remain inadequate.
Previous Attempts at Disposal
- In 2005, 345 metric tonnes of surface-level waste were collected, amounting to just 0.05% of the total hazardous material.
- In 2015, the Central Pollution Control Board incinerated 10 tonnes of waste as a trial at a facility in Pithampur.
- A proposal by Germany’s GIZ to transport and incinerate the waste in Hamburg at ₹54 crore was withdrawn after public opposition in Germany.
Despite these efforts, no comprehensive solution has materialized. Activist Rachna Dhingra highlighted concerns about the state government’s ₹126 crore plan for incineration at Pithampur, calling it a potential misuse of public funds compared to the earlier proposal by GIZ.
Environmental and Social Implications
The hazardous waste continues to affect nearby communities, with groundwater contamination posing significant health risks. Experts suggest either using advanced closed-loop incinerators to safely dispose of the waste or compelling Dow Chemicals, Union Carbide’s parent company, to take responsibility for its disposal.
What Lies Ahead
With the next High Court hearing scheduled, activists and residents await decisive action on waste disposal. The unresolved legacy of the Bhopal gas tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of industrial disasters and the critical need for accountability and environmental justice.
