Supreme Court Upholds Trial Runs for Bhopal Gas Tragedy Waste Disposal

The court dismissed a petition to halt incineration trials, citing expert oversight and safety measures in place.

The Supreme Court rejected a petition to stop trial runs for incinerating toxic waste from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy site, citing expert oversight and adherence to safety protocols.
The trial runs, scheduled for February 27, March 4, and March 10, will each dispose of 10 metric tonnes of waste at a facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh.
A committee of experts from NEERI, NGRI, and CPCB is monitoring the process, and the Madhya Pradesh High Court is overseeing the matter.
Concerns were raised by local residents and NGOs about potential health risks, water contamination, and lack of consent from nearby communities.
The toxic waste has been stored for 40 years following the 1984 disaster, which killed thousands and left long-term health impacts on survivors.