40 years after Bhopal gas tragedy, toxic waste finally begins shift to Pithampur

Bhopal: Nearly four decades after the catastrophic Bhopal gas tragedy, the process of removing 377 metric tonnes of hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide factory has begun. The waste will be transported to an incineration facility in Pithampur, around 250 kilometers from Bhopal, for safe disposal.

The gas tragedy, which occurred on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, caused by a methyl isocyanate leak, claimed 5,479 lives and left over five lakh people suffering from health issues and disabilities. Despite repeated court directives, the hazardous waste remained at the site, posing an ongoing environmental and health risk.

On Sunday morning, specially reinforced GPS-enabled trucks were deployed at the factory site, marking the start of the long-awaited waste disposal process. Workers in PPE kits, along with officials from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, environmental experts, doctors, and police personnel, were present to oversee the operation.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently set a four-week deadline to shift the toxic waste, expressing strong criticism of the prolonged delay. The court highlighted the “state of inertia” in handling the waste and cautioned against potential risks of another disaster if no action was taken.

(with agency inputs)