Bhopal's Toxic Legacy: Hazardous Waste Set for Disposal

Over 377 tons of hazardous waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal are being moved to Pithampur for disposal, following a High Court mandate to clear the site. The process involves health checks for workers and careful incineration to prevent further environmental contamination.

In a major development, 377 tons of hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal have been sealed and are now en route to a disposal site in Pithampur, approximately 250 km away, according to officials. The waste will be incinerated if it passes safety tests.

The move comes after a recent rebuke from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which imposed a deadline to shift the waste. This action follows years of legal and administrative inertia despite numerous court orders. The infamous 1984 gas leak from the Union Carbide factory remains one of the world's deadliest industrial disasters.

Local activists have expressed concern about pollution, citing previous contamination issues after trial incinerations in 2015. However, officials affirm that exhaustive tests have ensured safety, dismissing the need for alarm. The waste disposal has stirred protests from Pithampur residents, reflecting ongoing anxiety over environmental safety.

(With inputs from agencies.)