Overview

• The Supreme Court on June 4 declined a social activist’s request for an immediate hearing to pause incineration of 337 tonnes of waste from the defunct Union Carbide India Limited site.
• A March order by the Madhya Pradesh High Court mandates phased burning of the chemical waste at the Pithampur TSDF facility, with completion due by June 8.
• Trial runs began in February and full-scale incineration commenced in May following the transport of sealed containers from Bhopal.
• An expert committee from NEERI, NGRI and the CPCB is overseeing safety protocols to safeguard nearby communities and downstream water sources.
• Local NGOs and residents continue to voice health and environmental concerns even as the Supreme Court postpones substantive review until its July session.