Bhopal Gas Tragedy: 40 Years Later, Toxic Waste from Union Carbide Site Finally Moved for Disposal

Four decades after the devastating Bhopal gas tragedy, the hazardous legacy of the disaster continues to haunt survivors and the environment. In a significant development, 377 tons of toxic waste from the defunct Union Carbide factory were shifted to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, for disposal. The operation began Wednesday night, with 12 sealed container trucks transporting the waste 250 kilometers under a meticulously planned green corridor.

Swatantra Kumar Singh, Director of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department, stated, "The journey began around 9 p.m. and was completed non-stop in approximately seven hours. Nearly 100 personnel worked in 30-minute shifts to pack and load the waste, undergoing health check-ups and mandatory rest periods to ensure their safety."

The toxic waste, a reminder of the catastrophic gas leak on December 2-3, 1984, which killed at least 5,479 people and left thousands with severe health complications, had remained at the factory site for decades despite repeated court directives. The tragedy, caused by the release of highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas, is regarded as one of the worst industrial disasters in history.

On December 3, 2024, the Madhya Pradesh High Court reprimanded authorities for their inaction and ordered the waste's removal within four weeks, threatening contempt proceedings if the directive was not followed. The court's order marked a turning point, pushing the government to act.

Singh explained that the waste will undergo incineration at the disposal facility in Pithampur, a process expected to take three to nine months. Stringent safety measures are in place, including the use of advanced four-layer filters to ensure the incinerator's smoke does not pollute the air. Residual ash will be buried under a two-layer membrane to prevent contamination of soil and water. A team of experts from the Central and State Pollution Control Boards will oversee the disposal.

However, local residents and activists have expressed concerns over the safety of the disposal process. Many cited a trial incineration of 10 tons of waste in 2015, claiming it led to soil and water pollution in surrounding villages. Protesters in Pithampur, a city of 1.75 lakh residents, staged demonstrations on Sunday, opposing the disposal of the hazardous material in their vicinity.

Singh dismissed these fears, stating that the decision to dispose of the waste at Pithampur was made after thorough assessments of the 2015 trial and its objections. "We are confident that this process will be safe and environmentally sound," he asserted.

This move represents a long-overdue step in addressing the environmental and health aftermath of the Bhopal gas tragedy. For the survivors and activists who have fought tirelessly for justice and remediation, it is a bittersweet milestone in a struggle that has spanned four decades.