Union Carbide waste set to be incinerated after Madhya Pradesh HC permits trial run

“If there is no adverse effect, the second trial run will take place on 04.03.2025 followed by the third trial run on 10.03.2025 and thereafter based on results of same, after the due tests they will continue to dispose of the remaining waste and file the status report,” the court said.

The HC directions came as the state government submitted a compliance report — as sought by the HC — about the steps taken for creating public awareness about the disposal process.

Around 337 metric tonne of hazardous waste from the Bhopal Union Carbide factory, where a gas leak in 1984 killed thousands, has been lying in containers in Pithampur after it was transported to the industrial town in early January. Local residents have opposed the incineration of the waste in their area.

Requesting for trial in three phases, officials informed the court that an “action plan for six weeks has been prepared by the Department of Bhopal Gas Relief Tragedy and Rehabilitation”.

They also said “concerned stakeholders” were made aware by “environmental experts, medical experts and the experts of other fields working in universities and educational institutions” regarding the scientific disposal of the waste.

The government submitted that at least 11 representatives had requested the Dhar district collector to “conduct trial runs of 10 metric tonne and after sharing the results of the same with the public, remaining waste should be disposed of slowly following all protocol and procedure/guidelines etc.” The trial run for disposing of the first 10 metric tonne will take “approximately 3-4 days”, the court was informed.

The toxic waste was shifted to Pithampura after the HC, in December, rebuked the state government and directed an “immediate clean-up of the Union Carbide factory site”, setting a four-week deadline to shift the waste to a disposal site.

On January 6, the HC then told the state government to take steps within six weeks to dispose of the waste while following the safety protocol.

On Monday, the Supreme Court, which is hearing a petition challenging the HC order, sought responses from the Centre, the MP government and the state pollution control board on the issue.