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Supreme Court Rejects Urgent Plea to Halt Bhopal Waste Incineration

Madhya Pradesh is proceeding with a 72-day plan to incinerate 40-year-old toxic residue under expert supervision.

The toxic waste has been lying abandoned in the defunct Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) factory for the past 40 years. (File photo)
1984 Bhopal gas tragedy: SC refuses urgent hearing on plea against waste disposal

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.