The initial trial run for the incineration of hazardous waste from the Bhopal Gas tragedy site commenced on Thursday at Pithampur, located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. This development occurred shortly after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition aimed at halting the disposal process due to concerns regarding potential health hazards for local residents and the risk of soil and water contamination. The Supreme Court's ruling was based on the observation that a committee of experts, which includes the director of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the director of the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), and representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), is supervising the transportation and incineration of 337 tonnes of toxic waste from the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) site.
The court was reviewing a petition submitted by Chinmay Mishra, an Indore resident, who contested the Madhya Pradesh High Court's decision made on December 3, 2024, which authorized trial operations for waste disposal at the Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) located in Pithampur. In accordance with the Supreme Court's directive, the initial trial commenced on Thursday evening, with two further trials planned for March 4 and March 10.
Each trial will involve the incineration of 10 tons of waste. Deepak Kumar, the Indore divisional commissioner, stated that toxic waste at Pithampur was removed from containers and combined with chemicals. "This process began following the Supreme Court's order on Thursday," he noted. "The incinerator will take 12 hours to reach a temperature of 800 degrees Celsius, after which the waste will be incinerated. The primary operation is set to occur on Friday."
The panel, which includes Justice Augustine George Masih and is presided over by Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, stated, "NEERI is the most esteemed and well-regarded organization in the nation addressing environmental issues."
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)