Union Carbide toxic waste disposal: MP Govt halts process; to put matter before HC

Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Following sustained opposition and protests from citizens, the Madhya Pradesh government decided to temporarily halt the process of incineration of toxic waste from Union Carbide factory in Bhopal at Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd., in Pithampur of Dhar district.

An emergency high-level meeting was held late on Friday night at the residence of chief minister Mohan Yadav in Bhopal, following which the Chief Minister said that respecting public sentiments, all circumstances and practical difficulties will be brought to the attention of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The CM further emphasized that no further action will be taken regarding incineration of the waste until the court provides clear directions in the matter. “The government is fully committed to complying with any orders issued by the Court and will proceed only as per its instructions,” Yadav said following the meeting.

Protests have been going on near the Ramky facility in Dhar and other places with people resorting to even steps like attempts to immolate self on Thursday. Police had to cane charge crowd to disperse them on Friday. However, on Saturday too, stones were pelted at Ramky facility where the toxic waste is planned to be incinerated.

The matter of disposal of toxic waste from the abandoned Union Carbide factory in Bhopal has been a festering issue. Toxic Methyl Iso-Cynate (MiC) gas had leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal on night of December 2-3, 1984, killing thousands and maiming lakhs for life. The tragedy is considered worst industrial disaster in the world.

Activists have been demanding removal of the waste from Bhopal citing massive soil and water pollution from the waste. The Supreme Court had consequently directed safe disposal of the waste and given a deadline to the Madhya Pradesh government.

In compliance, the Madhya Pradesh government started the process of shifting the waste to Ramky facility in Pithampur, where earlier trials were done on the toxic waste in 2016, around New Year day of 2025.

The process of disposal began on January 1 night, when 337 metric tonnes of the hazardous toxic waste from Bhopal’s Union Carbide factory were sent to Pithampur in12 containers.

However, local and neighbourhood citizens are extremely apprehensive about the impact of the incineration of toxic waste on the local environment – given the history of the impact of the waste in Bhopal. This led to string of protests by the citizens.

The state government was forced into action and an emergency meeting was held late on Friday night.

Deputy Chief Ministers Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla, senior MP and State BJP President Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Rajora, Director General of Police Kailash Makwana, Principal Secretary for Law, and other senior officials from the Chief Minister's Office were present. Legal experts were also consulted.

Following the meeting, the CM Yadav reiterated the state government’s unwavering commitment to standing by the people and ensuring their welfare. He assured that no harm to the public would be tolerated; emphasizing that any action regarding sensitive issues will be taken strictly in compliance with the orders of the Court.

Yadav also appealed to citizens not to fall prey to false rumors, reaffirming the government’s dedication to public welfare, public interest, and public sentiments.

He said that in compliance to the Supreme Court's directive, the transportation of Union Carbide waste to Pithampur was carried out following strict safety protocols and compliance with court orders.

The court had set a deadline requiring the waste to reach its designated location by January 4, with a report expected by January 6, he said.