New Delhi: Indian authorities have begun clearing hazardous waste left over from the Bhopal gas disaster, more than 40 years after the deadly incident. The cleanup aims to address the long-standing health risks linked to toxic contamination in the region.
On Wednesday night, a convoy of trucks began transporting 337 tonnes of hazardous waste from the site of the 1984 disaster to a disposal facility in Pithampur, located 225 kilometers away. The waste, sealed inside containers, was escorted by police for safety.
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"The convoy has been fortified with the highest security protocol ever witnessed in the movement of industrial waste in the country," said Swatantra Kumar Singh, director of the state gas relief and rehabilitation department. The waste will undergo "scientific disposal" through incineration, Singh confirmed.
Bhopal gas tragedy
In December 1984, a gas leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal released 27 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC), a highly toxic chemical. The leak killed around 3,500 people immediately, with an estimated total death toll of 25,000 over the years. The disaster caused severe environmental damage, and contamination of the groundwater has been blamed for various health problems in the local community.
The order to remove the waste was issued in December, following the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster. The Madhya Pradesh High Court set a one-month deadline for the cleanup, criticizing authorities for their slow response. "Are you waiting for another tragedy?" Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait asked, condemning the "inertia" of the cleanup efforts.
Ongoing health risks
Test results from groundwater in the area have shown chemical levels 50 times higher than what is deemed safe by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Residents of Bhopal continue to blame the disaster for a wide range of health issues, including cerebral palsy, birth defects, and other disabilities.
The ongoing cleanup efforts are seen as a critical step in addressing the lingering environmental and health impacts of the 1984 gas leak, but many are calling for faster action to resolve the area's toxic legacy.
Agency
Published: 02 Jan 2025, 09:53 am IST
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