Union Carbide waste disposal: First trial concludes, samples taken for analysis

The trial incineration is being carried out on the orders of the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

“Monitoring of emissions from the chimney during burning of waste was done by about 20 officers/employees of Central Pollution Control Board and M.P. Pollution Control Board. Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) was operational for continuous monitoring of emissions from the chimney. Emissions from the chimney were found to be within the prescribed standard limits,” a note issued by MPPCB stated.

Emissions of seven pollutants and gases – Particulate matter, Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Flouride, Hydrogen Chloride, and Total Organic Carbon – were monitored and all were found within prescribed standards. The peak emission of hydrogen fluoride gas was recorded to be 4.44 microgram/cubic metre during a 24-hour period between Sunday and Monday, against the prescribed limit of 4 microgram/cubic metre, while the average reading the pollutant was 0.82 micogram/cubic metre, as per MPPCB.

“The feeding of Union Carbide waste was started from 03:00 pm, which was done continuously at the rate of 135 kg / hour and the trial run continued till 05:15 pm on 03/03/2025. Also, feeding of 10 tonnes of waste was completed by 05:15 pm. Thereafter, feeding of diesel into the incinerator continued till 06:30 PM so that the waste fed in could be completely burnt,” MPPCB’s note added.

MPPCB also carried out ambient air quality measurements at five locations at the time of waste burning, around the plant and in villages in the plant’s proximity.