Residents of Pithampur strongly opposed the incineration of 377 metric tonnes of harmful Union Carbide waste brought from Bhopal. The protest, held at the Pithampur bus stand on Thursday, highlighted concerns about health and environmental risks.
Details of Hazardous Waste
The total hazardous waste includes:
- 162 metric tonnes of contaminated soil
- 92 metric tonnes of Sevin and naphthol residues
- 54 metric tonnes of semi-processed pesticides
- 29 metric tonnes of reactor waste
- Methyl isocyanate (MIC), a chemical linked to the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy
Disposal Process
The toxic waste will be incinerated by Ramky Environment Management Engineering Limited (REEL) at Pithampur. The incineration process is part of phase-1 of the waste disposal plan.
Community and Schoolchildren’s Participation
The protest saw active participation from residents and even schoolchildren. Protesters carried banners and raised slogans, urging authorities to reconsider the incineration decision and adopt safer disposal methods.
Government’s Stand on Disposal
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav assured the public that the disposal process would follow scientific guidelines, ensuring no environmental harm. He stated that the Supreme Court had approved the disposal after reviewing trial results from 2015, which confirmed the process to be harmless.
Trial Incineration in 2015
- A trial incineration of 10 metric tonnes was conducted in August 2015 at the CHW-TSDF facility in Pithampur.
- It was supervised by:
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB)
- Madhya Pradesh government
- The trial complied with all environmental regulations, confirming the safety of the incineration process.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What is the total weight of hazardous waste brought to Pithampur for incineration?
a) 377 metric tonnes
b) 162 metric tonnes
c) 92 metric tonnes
d) 54 metric tonnes
Answer: a) 377 metric tonnes - Which organization is responsible for incinerating the hazardous waste in Pithampur?
a) Central Pollution Control Board
b) Ministry of Environment
c) Ramky Environment Management Engineering Limited (REEL)
d) Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board
Answer: c) Ramky Environment Management Engineering Limited (REEL) - What chemical linked to the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy is present in the waste?
a) Sevin
b) Naphthol
c) Methyl isocyanate (MIC)
d) Reactor waste
Answer: c) Methyl isocyanate (MIC) - When was the trial incineration of the hazardous waste conducted?
a) 2014
b) 2015
c) 2016
d) 2017
Answer: b) 2015 - Who supervised the trial incineration of the hazardous waste?
a) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
b) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
c) Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB)
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above