Why in news?

On January 2, Madhya Pradesh authorities relocated 358 tonnes of hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide facility in Bhopal to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district.

This action followed a Madhya Pradesh High Court order from December 3, 2024, which set a four-week deadline to dispose of the waste, nearly 40 years after the Bhopal gas disaster that killed over 4,000 people and injured thousands.

What’s in today’s article?

• Bhopal gas disaster
• Union Carbide waste disposal
• Is the Waste Harmful?
• What’s Next for Hazardous Waste Disposal?

Bhopal gas disaster

• About
  • It is one of the world's worst industrial accidents, occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• What Happened?
  • A highly toxic gas, methyl isocyanate (MIC), leaked from a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL).
  • The leak exposed over 500,000 residents to the gas, leading to immediate fatalities and long-term health complications.
• Reasons for the Disaster
  • Poor Maintenance: Safety systems, like gas scrubbers and cooling systems, were either non-functional or inadequate.
  • Negligence: Lack of proper training for workers and failure to follow safety protocols.
  • Cost-Cutting Measures: Union Carbide had reduced staff and safety standards to lower operational costs.
  • Design Flaws: Faulty plant design increased the risk of gas leaks.
  • Storage Issues: Excessive quantities of MIC were stored at the plant, contrary to safety guidelines.

Union Carbide waste disposal

• About the news: Hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide factory was transported in sealed container trucks from Bhopal to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district, 250 km away, for disposal.
• Bhopal Gas Tragedy Waste Disposal: Current Status
  • Background
    • Union Carbide plant was originally set up to manufacture fertilizers.
    • The waste at the site consists of fertilizer ingredients that have remained untreated for decades.
  • Planned Disposal
    • Madhya Pradesh government planned to incinerate 377 tons of hazardous waste at a treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF) in Pithampur.
    • The waste was packaged and labelled per Hazardous Waste Management Rules and transported in secure containers.
  • Challenges
    • Protests by locals in Pithampur over fears of harmful emissions from incineration have delayed the disposal process.
  • High Court Intervention
    • On January 6, 2025, the Madhya Pradesh High Court gave the State government six weeks to safely dispose of the waste.
    • This order came after the State has sought time to raise public awareness about the disposal methods and their environmental and health safeguards.
• Why Pithampur Was Chosen for Waste Disposal
  • Previous Attempts
    • In 2007, the MP government tried disposing of the waste at an incinerator-equipped TSDF in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, but the facility declined.
  • Supreme Court Selection
    • In 2012, the Supreme Court identified the Pithampur TSDF in MP as the most suitable site for disposing of the hazardous waste.
    • The facility, equipped with both a landfill and an incinerator, is the only TSDF in the state, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
  • CPCB Endorsement
    • In 2013, the CPCB submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court attesting to the Pithampur TSDF’s capacity to handle waste from the Union Carbide plant.

Is the Waste Harmful?

• Composition of the Waste
  • The trial waste included: 4.8 tonnes of excavated waste; 1.6 tonnes of semi-processed residue; 1.3 tonnes of naphthol waste; 1.3 tonnes of carbaryl residue; 0.8 tonnes of reactor residue.
  • Naphthol is a precursor for carbaryl, the insecticide produced by the Union Carbide plant.
• Water Quality Concerns
  • A December 2024 CPCB report found that water samples near the Pithampur TSDF showed higher-than-permissible levels of:
    • Its Colour, chloride, sulphate, and fluoride concentrations
    • Hardness and total dissolved solids (TDS)
  • These issues were found in two open wells near the landfill but were attributed to general groundwater quality, not the TSDF operations.
• Health Impact Claims
  • Media reports alleging higher rates of skin diseases around the TSDF were countered by:
    • Surveys from AIIMS Bhopal and the Indian Council of Medical Research, which found lower-than-average cases of skin and respiratory ailments compared to national levels.
• Incineration Residue and Environmental Risks
  • Reports in 2015 indicated that incineration generated four times more ash and residue than the combusted waste.
  • The residue was disposed of in the TSDF landfill with protections against leachates.
  • According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), composite liners at hazardous waste landfills degrade over time and require periodic replacement to prevent environmental contamination.

What’s Next for Hazardous Waste Disposal?

• Temporary Halt in Incineration
  • MP government has delayed waste incineration due to local protests and safety concerns.
• Public Awareness Efforts
  • Authorities plan to build public confidence in the disposal process by addressing misinformation.
  • 50 master trainers (science teachers, professors, and officials) will be trained to educate locals on the waste and disposal process.
• Upcoming Trial Run
  • A new trial run will incinerate 90 kg of waste at 1,200º C.
  • Scientific rationale:
    • Organic compounds like 1-naphthol are destroyed at 590–650º C.
  • Hazardous waste incinerators at 980–1,200º C could eliminate organic contaminants effectively.
• Full-Scale Incineration Plan
  • If emissions remain within legal limits:
    • Waste will be incinerated in batches of 270 kg over three months.
  • If emissions exceed limits:
    • Batch sizes will be reduced, and disposal may extend to nine months.
• Next Steps
  • The next High Court hearing is scheduled for February 18, 2025, to review progress and decide further actions.