In a significant step toward disposing of the hazardous waste from the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy site, around 3,240 kg of toxic waste has been incinerated over three days at an industrial facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. Officials confirmed on Saturday that flue gas emissions remained within the prescribed environmental safety limits during the trial run.
Toxic Waste Disposal Under Heavy Security
The trial incineration of 10 metric tonnes of waste began on Thursday under tight security, with 650 police personnel and Special Armed Force (SAF) jawans deployed. The waste, mixed with lime for controlled combustion, was burned using approximately 400 to 500 liters of diesel per hour, consuming around 21,000 liters so far, officials stated.
A combination of 3.6 tonnes of lime, 1.8 tonnes of activated carbon, and 24 kg of sulfur was used to filter the flue gases, ensuring emissions met environmental safety norms. An online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) was deployed to monitor real-time air quality from the facility’s chimney.
Emissions Within Safe Limits
According to the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB), all toxic gas emissions, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and total organic carbon, were well below the maximum standard limits.
Next Steps: More Trial Runs Planned
The second phase of the trial run will begin on March 4. After completing three trial runs covering 30 metric tonnes of waste, experts will determine the safe disposal rate for the remaining 320 metric tonnes of toxic waste. Officials will also assess the overall environmental impact of the incineration process in Pithampur.
Four Decades of Toxic Legacy
The toxic waste being incinerated has remained at the abandoned Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) factory in Bhopal for 40 years. The site witnessed one of the world’s worst industrial disasters when a leak of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas on the night of December 2-3, 1984, killed 5,295 people, according to official figures. Activists estimate that at least 15,000 lives were lost, while thousands more suffer from chronic health issues due to long-term exposure.
Environmental activists and residents have expressed concerns over the incineration process, fearing potential health hazards and soil and water contamination. However, the Supreme Court recently dismissed a petition to halt the trial runs, allowing the toxic waste disposal to proceed under strict monitoring.
Sources By Agencies