Protests Erupt as 377 Tons of Toxic Waste from Bhopal's Union Carbide Factory Shifted for Disposal in Pithampur
Protests Erupt as 377 Tons of Toxic Waste from Bhopal's Union Carbide Factory Shifted for Disposal in Pithampur
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INDORE: Protests in Pithampur have intensified following the arrival of toxic waste from the defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. Since early morning, the entire town has come to a standstill, with shops closed and people taking to the streets in large numbers to voice their opposition. The protests turned violent when the toxic waste arrived in Pithampur, forcing the police to use lathi charges to control the situation.

Local residents are strongly against the disposal of the hazardous waste in their area. Pithampur, which has a population of approximately 1.75 lakh, has become the focal point of the protests. A large protest march took place on Sunday, with community leaders, institutions, and organizations coming together to oppose the plan.

The waste, totaling 377 tons, is being moved from Bhopal to Dhar district for disposal. This action follows a long delay, as the Madhya Pradesh High Court had recently rebuked authorities for not addressing the issue despite multiple Supreme Court orders. A four-week deadline was set by the court for the removal of the waste, threatening contempt proceedings if the directive was ignored.

The toxic waste was carried out under tight security in a dozen sealed container trucks along a Green-Corridor from Bhopal to Pithampur. The journey, which began on the night of January 1, took around seven hours. The trucks reached the disposal facility around 4.30 AM on Thursday.

Swatantra Kumar Singh, Director of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department, explained that nearly 100 workers were involved in loading and packing the waste into trucks. The workers were required to take regular health check-ups and rest every 30 minutes during the process.

This toxic waste originates from the Union Carbide plant, where the catastrophic gas leak occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984. The release of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas resulted in the deaths of at least 5,479 people and caused long-term health issues for thousands more.

The waste will be processed at the Pithampur unit, where it will undergo incineration. If no harmful residues remain, the process could take up to three months. However, if traces of toxins are found, it may take up to nine months to fully dispose of the hazardous material.
 

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