Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department (BGTRRD) started clean-up at the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) plant to remove the 337 MT chemical waste lying for the last 40 years on Sunday morning amidst tight security. Heavy police force was deployed at the UCC plant.
Masked handlers have been pressed for removal of the chemical waste under the guideline of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Madhya Pradesh High Court, principal bench of Jabalpur, had ordered the state government on December 3, 2024 to dispose off that waste in four weeks.
It was a writ petition of Zehreeli Gas Kand Sangharsh Morcha (“Zehreeli”)’s Alok Pratap Singh Vs Union of India in MP High Court, principal bench—WP2802/2004. The waste will be transported for incineration in Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited (REEL), Pithampur.
The HC directed the Principal Secretary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department to fulfill statutory obligations and warned that failure to comply would lead to contempt of court proceedings. The Central government has sanctioned Rs 126 crore for the clean-up.
Commissioner Gas relief Swatanra Pratap Singh said, “We have started the clean-up process. The waste will be transported in 12 containers to Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited (REEL), Pithampur, for incineration. The clean-up work has been taken up after the HC order which had given us four weeks time on petition of activist Alok Pratap Singh in 2004.”
