Bhopal gas tragedy: Chemical waste disposal begins 40 years after deadly disaster

Bhopal gas tragedy toxic waste transported amid protests

Four decades after the catastrophic Bhopal gas tragedy of December 2, 1984, efforts to dispose of 337 metric tonnes of toxic chemical waste from the Union Carbide factory site began on Wednesday. The waste, a grim reminder of one of India’s deadliest industrial disasters, is being transported to a disposal facility in Pithampur under strict supervision.

The 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy

On the fateful night of December 2, 1984, the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal released a massive quantity of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas, transforming the city into a gas chamber. The tragedy claimed the lives of over 15,000 people and affected more than 600,000. The disaster not only left a devastating human toll but also led to long-term environmental and health hazards due to toxic waste contamination at the factory site.

Current waste disposal efforts

The chemical waste at the Union Carbide factory site includes remnants of the pesticide Sevin, methyl isocyanate, reactor residues, and contaminated soil. The district administration, municipal corporation, health department, and pollution control board manage the disposal.

Key details of the disposal process

Waste transportation

• 12 specially designed leak-proof and fire-resistant containers are being used, each carrying an average of 30 tonnes.
• The waste is being transported through Bhopal, Sehore, Dewas, and Indore to reach Pithampur, with a convoy traveling at an average speed of 50 km/h.
• The convoy includes 25 vehicles, including police escorts, ambulances, fire brigade units, doctors, and quick-response teams.

Safety measures

• Over 1,000 police officers were deployed to secure the area, and a 200-metre radius around the site was sealed during waste transfer.
• Workers involved in the operation were limited to 30-minute shifts to ensure safety.

Waste composition

• The 337 metric tonnes of waste include 162 metric tonnes of contaminated soil, 92 metric tonnes of Sevin and naphthol residues, 54 metric tonnes of semi-processed pesticides, and 29 metric tonnes of reactor waste.

Concerns raised by victims’ advocacy groups

Organizations representing victims of the gas tragedy have criticized the limited scope of the cleanup, arguing that the waste being removed represents less than one percent of the total toxic material buried across the 36-acre factory site.

Advocates claim the buried waste has contaminated groundwater in nearby settlements with heavy metals and organochlorines, causing long-term health issues like cancer and kidney disease. They are demanding that the waste be disposed of in the United States, rather than within India.

Previous efforts and legal proceedings

Some local activists have claimed that 10 tons of Union Carbide waste were incinerated on a trial basis in Pithampur in 2015, after which the soil, underground water, and water sources in surrounding villages became polluted. But Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department Director Swatantra Kumar Singh rejected the claim, stating the decision to dispose of the waste at Pithampur was taken only after a report of the 2015 test and all the objections were examined.

The government is now expected to submit an affidavit detailing the disposal efforts to the court by January 3, ahead of a hearing scheduled for January 6.

A legacy of environmental and human cost

The Bhopal gas tragedy remains a haunting reminder of industrial negligence and its enduring impact. While the disposal of chemical waste marks a small step toward remediation, it highlights the ongoing challenges of addressing the environmental and health fallout from one of the world’s worst industrial disasters.

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