Pithampur Bandh On January 3; Residents Express Fear Over Health, Environmental Risks

Pithampur/Mhow (Madhya Pradesh): Protests have erupted in Pithampur against the disposal of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) waste with residents expressing fear over health and environmental risks.

On the call of the Pithampur Bachav Samiti, Pithampur Kshetra Raksha Manch, Sanyukt Trade Union Sangharsh Samiti and others, a ‘Pithampur Bandh’ will be observed on Friday to oppose the incineration of the toxic waste, emphasising the need for safer disposal methods to protect the community.

In addition to the BJP and Congress, social and political organisations and street vendors will also close their businesses in protest. Many factories have also announced their day off.

On Wednesday, the protesters gathered at Maharana Pratap Bus Station after marching through the town, voicing serious concerns about the environmental and health implications of burning the toxic waste in the region. An activist, Sandeep Raghuvanshi, also launched an indefinite hunger strike.

The speakers at the event highlighted the existing challenges faced by residents due to industrial pollution, including contaminated groundwater and increasing air pollution. They emphasised that the addition of UCC waste would further deteriorate the local environmental conditions.

The protest follows the arrival of 12 containers carrying 337 tonnes of UCC waste at Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited, Sector-2 in Pithampur on Thursday around 4:20 am amid tight security. The containers were dispatched from the Bhopal-based UCC plant at 9:15 pm with several police vehicles escorting and monitoring the trucks. Senior police officers and representatives of Ramky were also present in the convoy.

Notably, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had set a four-week deadline for the removal of the hazardous waste with a warning of contempt proceedings if authorities fail to comply. Meanwhile, local activists have raised concerns about the safety of the incineration process, citing a previous trial in 2015 that allegedly led to soil and water contamination. The waste, which includes remnants of methyl isocyanate (MIC) and other hazardous materials, was transported under strict supervision to ensure safety and compliance with environmental regulations.

Leaders speak

1. Sanjay Vaishnav, BJP councillor, stated that the citizens of Pithampur respect the government and the court orders. He emphasised the need for public consultation before any decision to burn garbage is made, urging that the impact and findings from the Union Carbide waste burned in 2014 should be disclosed to the community.

2. Sevanti Patel, Municipality president, firmly declared that the toxic waste from Union Carbide will not be permitted to be burned in Pithampur. She stressed that the health and safety of local residents must be prioritised and suggested that any burning should take place at a facility located far from populated areas.

3. Prem Patidar, Congress councillor, voiced his opposition to burning the toxic waste in Pithampur. He called on the government to find an alternative disposal site that is distanced from residential neighbourhoods, advocating for a private area to handle the waste.

4. Devendra Patel, former municipality president, expressed strong disapproval of burning Union Carbide’s toxic waste in Pithampur. He urged the government to halt the burning process and consider filing a review petition in court to reassess the situation.

5. Ashok Mishra, social activist and advocate, highlighted the presence of numerous residential settlements near the proposed burning site. He insisted that all reports related to the waste should be made accessible to the public and emphasised the importance of involving the community in discussions about the disposal plans.

Waste To Be Disposed only After people’s Nod: Minister Kailash Vijayargiya

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Housing and urban minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Thursday said that Union Carbide waste would be incinerated only after people and people’s representatives’ nod.

During a meeting with residents of Indore and Pithampur in Indore, he asked them not to be worried over the issue.

He said, “We are equally worried. We did not let the government sleep last night over this issue. It is crucial to allay public’s fears and doubts about the toxic waste.”

During the meeting, Vijayvargiya questioned officials about a 2015 incident wherein 10 tons of hazardous waste was incinerated, asking whether residents of Pithampur were informed back then. The officials could not provide a satisfactory answer.