Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Countdown has begun for cleanup of 337 MT chemical waste lying for the last 40 years at the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) plant in Bhopal.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court had ordered the state government for the cleanup within four weeks on the 40th anniversary of Bhopal gas tragedy on December 2-3 this year.
The order came on 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 Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department (BGTRRD) will start transporting the chemical waste any time to Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited (REEL), Pithampur, according to the officials.
However, the gas victims said the waste will be transported on Saturday. Bhopal Information and Action’s (BGIA) Rachna Dhingra, working for gas victims, said, “The gas relief department will start transporting the UCC waste on Saturday. The department has made all preparations for it.” Commissioner gas relief Swantra Kumar Singh said, “We will start transporting UCC chemical waste any time before the end of this year. Everything has been done as per the High Court order.
Entire 337 MT chemical waste will be transported at one go in the midnight through “Corridor” just like green corridor amidst tight security. There will be 12 containers of REEL with 150 handlers for this job. Two companies of security forces will be deployed and drone monitoring will be done. Just to avoid traffic hassle, it will be transported at night.”
