337MT Union Carbide waste unloaded at Indore’s Pithampur plant | Indore News
INDORE: The 337MT of Union Carbide waste that was transported from Bhopal in 12 trucks on Jan 2 this year was unloaded at a disposal facility in Pithampur on Thursday — five days before a high court hearing.
Dhar collector Priyank Mishra said it was necessary to offload the containers from the trucks. “Before the garbage was unloaded, discussions were held with public representatives, and the action was explained. Everyone agreed to it. It was decided that it would be carried out with complete transparency in everyone’s presence,” he said in an official release.
The containers are now placed in batches of four on the premises of Pithampur Industrial Waste Management Pvt Ltd. Inside the containers, the waste is sealed in leakproof packaging. The unloading took place with proper safety measures to ensure no contamination or leakage of the hazardous materials, which had been stored for years since the infamous 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
The waste from the 1984 Gas Tragedy was moved from Bhopal amid public protests against the plan to incinerate it in the industrial township, 25km from Indore. Local residents and several environmental groups have expressed their concerns over the potential risks associated with the incineration of the waste. Sensing local sentiment, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the government would take further action only on court directions, assuring the public that any step taken would follow legal guidelines.
On Jan 6, the High Court gave the state government six weeks to dispose of the Carbide waste under safety protocols and set the next hearing for Feb 18. The court’s order was meant to ensure that the disposal process would be carried out safely, taking into account the local population’s concerns.
On Thursday, Feb 18, collector Mishra said the Dhar administration has been working to provide accurate information to the public on this matter over the past few days. Meetings with public representatives were held, and the entire process was explained on different platforms. Mishra emphasized that the government was committed to transparency and public safety. He added that the government had taken steps to keep the community informed about the actions taken concerning the waste.
The plant is under 24-hour surveillance and constant CCTV watch, he said, reassuring the public that their concerns regarding safety were being addressed. The authorities also ensured that regular inspections and monitoring were in place to prevent any mishaps.
The process of unloading was carried out a day before a ‘deadline’ given by Pithampur Bachao Samiti (PBS), which has been protesting the plan to dispose of the toxic waste in Pithampur. A joint committee of the protesting organizations threatened a series of protests from Friday, calling for the government to reconsider its decision to dispose of the waste in their area. The protests reflect the deep-seated fears within the local community about the long-term environmental and health consequences of the plan.
