A major operation has begun to transport 337 metric tonnes of hazardous waste from the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal. Twelve containers of waste are being moved to Pithampur under heavy security. The operation involves a 250-kilometer-long green corridor, with ambulances, police vehicles, and fire brigades escorting the containers.
Fifty police personnel from Bhopal are safeguarding the transport. The waste is moved following the highest safety standards. An Additional Superintendent of Police is overseeing the operation, which began late on Wednesday evening.
The hazardous waste was stored at the Union Carbide factory site for decades. The toxic materials were loaded into 12 specially designed containers that are leak-proof and fire-resistant. Each container holds about 30 tonnes of waste, packed in jumbo HDPE bags to prevent chemical reactions.
Before the shift, a 200-meter radius around the factory was sealed for safety. Around 200 workers were involved in the operation, working in 30-minute shifts. They adhered to strict safety measures, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
However, there has been strong resistance from civil society in Pithampur, the destination for the waste. Over 10 organizations have called for a shutdown, demanding the waste be disposed of abroad rather than locally. Doctors from Indore’s Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital Alumni Association have also raised concerns, filing a petition to question the disposal process.
The waste will be incinerated at a state-of-the-art plant in Pithampur, the only incineration facility of its kind in Madhya Pradesh. Operated by Ramky Enviro Engineers, the plant will burn the waste following strict guidelines from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The burning will take place on a special platform, 25 feet above the ground. Testing will determine the optimal temperature and conditions for incineration. At a speed of 90 kg per hour, the entire waste disposal will take approximately 153 days. If the speed is increased to 270 kg per hour, the process could be completed in 51 days.
Air quality will be closely monitored at three locations within the factory campus. Additionally, dust and soil from areas where the waste was stored are being tested for contamination.
The waste includes hazardous materials like pesticide residues, soil, and chemicals from manufacturing processes. This disposal operation comes nearly 40 years after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which caused over 5,000 deaths due to the release of toxic gas.
In 2015, part of the waste was incinerated as a trial, burning 90 kg per hour. Based on the success of that trial, the High Court has directed that the remaining waste be disposed of by January 6, 2025.
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