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40 Years after Bhopal Gas Tragedy
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Four decades after the Bhopal gas tragedy, hundreds of tonnes of toxic waste remain at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) site. Despite numerous court orders and warnings, government authorities have yet to safely dispose of the waste, officials confirmed to The Hindu.
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, is regarded as one of the worst industrial disasters in history. It took place at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, where a catastrophic leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas released approximately 45 tons of this highly toxic substance into the atmosphere, affecting over half a million residents in the surrounding areas.
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- The Union government allocated ₹126 crore to the Madhya Pradesh government earlier this year to facilitate the disposal of 337 metric tonnes (MT) of toxic waste collected in 2005 and stored on the factory premises.
- However, documents indicate that the site also contains an estimated 11 lakh tonnes of contaminated soil, one tonne of mercury, and nearly 150 tonnes of underground waste.
- Plans to address this broader contamination remain undeveloped.
Incomplete Disposal and Delays
- A 2010 government-commissioned study revealed that the 2005 waste collection was incomplete, as significant waste dumps were still present on-site.
- It recommended excavation and remediation of the remaining toxic waste.
- A peer review committee formed the same year advised a comprehensive assessment, but a reassessment has yet to be conducted 14 years later.
- Although ₹126 crore was released in March 2023 for disposing of the 337 MT of waste, the Madhya Pradesh government has not yet initiated the process.
- Administrative hurdles are reportedly causing delays.
- An oversight committee reconvened in June 2023, after a 12-year gap, to recommend fresh studies to quantify groundwater and soil contamination.
- However, these recommendations have not progressed.
Groundwater Contamination and Public Health Risks
- Numerous studies over the years have found groundwater outside the factory premises contaminated with toxic substances, posing significant health risks, including cancer.
- Experts warn of further contamination spreading from the site.
- In March 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) criticised government inaction, highlighting that the toxic waste continues to generate leachate, contaminating surface and underground water, and spreading during rainy seasons to nearby areas and river bodies.
- The Madhya Pradesh government has expanded safe drinking water provisions from 14 to 42 localities around the factory, sealed hand pumps, and restricted access to contaminated water.
- However, many residents still rely on groundwater for non-drinking purposes.
Historical Negligence
- The contamination stems from hazardous waste generated during pesticide production between 1969 and 1984, which UCIL dumped indiscriminately.
- The Supreme Court noted in 2004 that negligent practices and lack of enforcement had damaged groundwater and drinking water supplies.
- Efforts to dispose of the waste have been sporadic.
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- In 2005, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board collected 347 MT of waste, a portion of which was incinerated.
- In 2015, the Central Pollution Control Board incinerated 10 MT on a trial basis, recommending the same for the rest.
- In 2022, an NGT-appointed committee flagged the possibility of soil contamination and called for swift action.
- Despite this, authorities have failed to follow through.
Continuing Impact and Activist Concerns
- Rachna Dhingra, a member of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, highlighted the ongoing spread of groundwater contamination and the emergence of new victims even 40 years after the disaster.
- She criticised the government’s focus on disposing of just 337 MT of waste, which represents a small fraction of the total contamination.
- Ms. Dhingra also condemned the lack of accountability for the polluter, noting that Union Carbide has refused to pay ₹310 crore demanded for cleanup efforts.
