UCC Waste Incineration In Pithampur: Virtual Monitoring Of Dioxin, Furan Emission Not Possible

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Virtual monitoring of emissions of hazardous chemicals like Dioxins and Furans, which are known to cause cancer, is not feasible, claimed NGOs working for the rights of Bhopal Gas Tragedy survivors.

The state government while trying to dispel concerns about air and water pollution caused from disposal of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) waste at Pithampur, had assured that online monitoring of emissions of chemicals like Dioxins and Furans would be conducted during incineration.

Bhopal Group for Information and Action (BGIA) Rachna Dhingra raised questions over the virtual monetering of the gas emission during incineration, “The government also states of reducing the temperature from 800 °C to 200 °C to control the emission of Dioxins and Furans.

However, this is not feasible as reducing the temperature from 800°C to 200°C takes time. How agencies plan to monitor the emission of these dangerous gases remains unclear,” Dhingra said.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation (BGTRRD) State government has transported 337 MT to REEL, Pithampur on January 1, 2025. The high court has given six weeks time for confidence building and dispelling myths over pollution.

Prof speak

Professor Sudershan Neogi, chemical engineering IIT Kharagpur and IIT Indore visiting faculty, talking to Free Press over the issue too said that virtual monitoring of gas emission is not feasible. “It is not possible for the agencies to monitor online emission of gasses like Dioxins and Furans. These gases can only be collected at a certain temperature and then analysed,” said the professor.