The trial incineration of 10 tonnes of waste linked to the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy commenced on Friday at a waste disposal facility in Pithampur, Dhar district. According to officials, initial reports indicate that air quality and other environmental parameters remain normal.
The process, conducted under strict monitoring by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB), was initiated at 3 PM and is being carried out following an order from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The state government has consistently maintained that the waste—comprising soil from the defunct Union Carbide factory, reactor residue, Sevin (pesticide) residue, naphthal residue, and semi-processed residue—is safe as it lacks toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and radioactive elements.
Indore Division Commissioner Deepak Singh, who visited the site, confirmed that all environmental reports remain within permissible limits. “We have begun incinerating 10 tonnes of waste in the designated plant, and all current reports indicate normal levels of air quality and emissions,” Singh told reporters.
Scientific Process and Precautions
According to State Pollution Control Board regional officer Srinivas Dwivedi, five types of waste from the Union Carbide factory were mixed in a controlled manner before being incinerated at 850 degrees Celsius. The burning process, expected to last 72 hours, will see the waste fed into the incinerator in instalments. The disposal process includes strict monitoring and treatment of the ash, solid residues, water, and gases released during combustion.
To ensure transparency, the Dhar district administration has arranged a live broadcast of the incineration process outside the Pithampur facility.
Security and Public Reactions
A heavy police presence has been deployed at the site, as the transfer of 337 tonnes of waste from Bhopal to Pithampur on January 2 had sparked protests from local residents and environmental activists. The incineration trial follows a February 18 directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. If no environmental or health concerns arise, additional incineration phases may take place on March 4 and March 10, with a final report due to the court on March 27.
On February 27, the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the High Court’s decision to transfer and dispose of the Bhopal waste at the private facility in Pithampur, affirming the legitimacy of the trial process.
Industrial Impact and Local Response
Despite initial concerns, the Pithampur industrial area has remained unaffected, with businesses operating as usual. Gautam Kothari, president of the Pithampur Industrial Organisation, confirmed that there has been no impact on worker attendance. “The situation remains normal, and operations across 1,250 industrial units employing over one lakh workers continue without disruption,” he said.
The 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy, one of the world’s deadliest industrial disasters, resulted in the deaths of at least 5,479 people and left thousands with long-term health issues after a toxic MIC gas leak from the Union Carbide factory. The waste disposal efforts aim to address a decades-old environmental concern tied to the disaster.
Sources By Agencies
