Union Carbide waste containers unloaded in Pithampur; no decision on disposal till next HC hearing

12 trucks loaded with 358-tonne of Union Carbide’s toxic waste from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy parked inside the premises of Ramky Group’s Pithampur Industrial Waste Management Pvt Ltd in Pithampur industrial town of Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district.
| Photo Credit: A.M. FARUQUI

Waste containers from the defunct Union Carbide plant in Bhopal were unloaded from their trucks at a waste management facility at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Thursday, five days before the Jabalpur High Court is next scheduled to hear a case regarding the disposal of the waste. This comes forty years after a gas leak at the Union Carbide plant killed thousands in Bhopal.

Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra said that the unloading of containers was being undertaken in consultation with and in the presence of local representatives, reiterating that the incineration of the waste has not started.

The 358 tonnes of toxic chemical waste have been lying in 12 trucks at the Pithampur Industrial Waste Management Private Limited, owned by the Ramky Group, since January 2. The State government moved the waste from the defunct factory, intending to incinerate it at the facility in Pithampur, an industrial town near Indore. The move prompted mass protests in Pithampur and nearby areas, forcing the government to seek six weeks from the High Court for consensus building. 

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 18, spurring the revival of protests in Pithampur. 

‘Containers still locked’

“The waste will continue to be inside the containers and they are not being unlocked. If any practical aspects emerge in the future, they will have to be taken under consideration but only when the scientific experts recommend that,” Mr. Mishra told reporters outside the facility. He clarified that any further action will only occur after the public is taken into confidence. 

“Any decision on the burning [of the waste] will be taken after all the facts are presented before the court during the next hearing,” he added. 

Pithampur sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Pramod Gurjar denied rumours that incineration is starting, adding that the containers are being unloaded following all safety measures. “The claims about the start of the burning process are incorrect. No misinformation or false rumours should be spread,” he said. 

Local protests

Rajesh Choudhary, a lawyer and activist whose intervention petition is part of the ongoing case in the HC, said that the local groups are currently focusing on the upcoming court hearing and that their next course of action will be decided based on the HC’s directions. 

“Unloading the containers does not make much of a difference as the disposal process is not starting. We understand the concerns about the piling up of the trucks and other practical issues. Our focus is on presenting all the facts and evidences we have gathered in front of the court,” he told The Hindu. 

Earlier on Wednesday, a group of activists and locals demonstrated by performing shavasana (corpse pose), covered in white sheets, to protest the plans to incinerate the waste in the town. 

The local residents of Pithampur, Indore and nearby places, including several doctors, have long opposed the government’s plans, alleging that the smoke and residue from the incineration could pollute their environment and contaminate their water bodies. They already blame various environmental issues on the Ramky Group’s waste management facility and some other industries in the area. 

Scientific disposal

The State government, however, has assured residents that the process will be carried out scientifically and under the supervision of experts. The waste that had remained at the Union Carbide factory site for more than 40 years was moved to Pithampur after the High Court set a four-week deadline for the government in December 2024. 

The authorities believe that misinformation charged with panic was the primary factor that led to the widespread protests in early January, including two self-immolation attempts and stone-pelting at the facility. After the government was granted a six-week delay by the High Court, local authorities have conducted extensive outreach campaigns to create awareness among local residents and bust misinformation regarding the issue.