337 MT Ton Chemical Wastes Still Dumped At UCC Plant!

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Even after four decades since the Bhopal gas tragedy, approximately 337 metric tonnes of toxic chemical waste remain dumped at the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) plant site in Bhopal. The tragedy, which occurred on the intervening night of December 2–3, 1984, continues to cast a shadow over the region.

Despite funds being available, the Madhya Pradesh state government has not yet taken a decision on the incineration of the toxic waste. The disposal process is planned to take place at a facility in Pithampur, with the Union government having sanctioned ₹126 crore to the Madhya Pradesh government for this purpose. However, delays persist on the state government’s end.

Bhopal MP Alok Sharma raised the issue of these delays in the Lok Sabha on July 30 this year, emphasizing the need for urgent action. Officials from the Gas Relief Department have reiterated that, while funds are available, the final decision and execution lie with the state government.

German company offered to transport, incinerate waste

In 2012, the Madhya Pradesh government filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court opposing the incineration of the toxic waste at Pithampur, citing concerns about potential pollution of the Yashwant Sagar Dam, a key water source for Indore, and health risks to nearby residents.

A German company, GIZ, had previously offered to transport and incinerate 346 metric tonnes of the waste in Hamburg for ₹25 crore. However, the plan was abandoned after opposition from German environmental organizations and activists.

Following a 2014 Supreme Court directive, a trial incineration of 10 metric tonnes of the waste was conducted in 2015. An environmental impact assessment was carried out subsequently, but the remaining waste remains at the UCC plant.

Pithampur Industrial Waste Management to take charge

In July 2023, the Oversight Committee decided that the chemical waste stored at the UCC plant would be disposed of at the Pithampur facility by Pithampur Industrial Waste Management Pvt. Ltd. The committee also instructed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to transfer the necessary funds immediately.

Previously, in 2005, Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited (REEL) excavated, packed, and stored the chemicals at the UCC plant. Three locations—Ankleshwar in Gujarat, Nagpur in Maharashtra, and Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh—were initially considered for incineration.

Principal Secretary of the Gas Relief Department, Sandeep Yadav, stated, “It is up to the state government to decide on the incineration plan and the complete cleanup of the UCC site. While the central government has sanctioned the necessary funds, the final decision remains with the state government.”