Dhar: Authorities in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district began coaching 50 master trainers on Monday about the 337 tonnes of Union Carbide factory waste that was brought to Pithampur for incineration. The training is part of a broader effort to spread awareness that the waste is not hazardous.

The Madhya Pradesh state government has faced public backlash following the controversial waste disposal plan, which sparked protests and two self-immolation attempts in the Pithampur industrial area earlier this month. Authorities are now working to calm fears and clarify the safety of the waste disposal process.

“We are preparing 50-odd master trainers, including science teachers, professors and officials. They will be informed about the exact status of the waste before they reach out to people to dispel misinformation,” said Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra.

Court orders government to act on waste disposal

On January 6, the principal bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur granted the state government six weeks to act on the disposal of Union Carbide factory waste according to safety guidelines. The authorities had requested additional time to educate the public and dispel fears about the waste disposal process in Pithampur, following the protests.

Mishra confirmed that the master trainers will begin their outreach efforts on Tuesday, with 50 more trainers to be added to the programme in the coming days.

“We will give presentations via video with content and other mediums to master trainers,” he said.

Controversy

On January 2, 2024, the waste, packed into 12 sealed containers, was transported from the defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal to the disposal site in Pithampur, located around 250 km from the state capital. Pithampur, home to over 700 factories across three sectors, quickly became the site of protests shortly after the waste arrived.

The 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy

The protests were partly fuelled by memories of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, when highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide factory, killing at least 5,479 people and leaving thousands more with long-term health problems. The current waste disposal efforts are seen as a continuation of addressing the aftermath of the tragedy.

In a hearing on December 3, 2024, the Madhya Pradesh High Court reprimanded authorities for not disposing of the waste earlier. The court ordered the state government to remove and transport the waste from the Union Carbide factory site within four weeks, threatening contempt proceedings if the order was not followed.

PTI