Madhya Pradesh
MP to Dispose Toxic Waste
- 30 Dec 2024
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Recently, the Madhya Pradesh government has started disposing of 337 tonnes of toxic waste from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) in Bhopal, 40 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy. They plan to transport the waste to Pithampur in Dhar district.
Key Points
- Supervised Packing and Stacking:
- The factory administration is packing and stacking the waste under the supervision of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB).
- Specially trained workers are involved in the packing and loading process, taking necessary precautions.
- Twelve specially-designed airtight containers are being used for the waste.
- Short Worker Shifts:
- Workers are operating in 30-45 minute shifts instead of regular 8-9 hour shifts to minimize exposure to the toxic waste.
- A 250-kilometer green corridor has been prepared to facilitate the safe transportation of waste from Bhopal to Pithampur.
- Trial Run and Safety Assurances:
- In 2015, 10 tonnes of the waste were incinerated in Pithampur under scientific supervision, with results submitted to the High Court showing no harmful effects.
- Safety measures include landfill sites with two-layer membranes to prevent contamination and a four-layer air filtration system.
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy
- The Bhopal gas tragedy occurred on 2-3 December 1984, when methyl isocyanate gas leaked, killing 5,479 people.
- More than five lakh people suffered long-term health impacts, and multiple cases related to the tragedy are still pending in courts.
