Soil containing Bhopal gas tragedy waste destroyed after 4 decades

After more than four decades of the deadly 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board destroyed around 19 tonnes of contaminated soil from the defunct Union Carbide factory at a hazardous waste facility in Pithampur, officials said on Thursday.

The latest disposal follows the earlier incineration of 337 tonnes of chemical waste from the same site.

The factory was the epicentre of the Bhopal gas tragedy, which killed over 5,400 people and left thousands with chronic health conditions after a massive leak of methyl isocyanate gas.

Shrinivas Dwivedi, Regional Officer of the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB), said the latest batch of soil, containing remnants of toxic substances, had been fully destroyed through high-temperature incineration.

Additionally, 2.2 tonnes of packaging waste, mostly iron drums used for transport, is also being dismantled and burnt, with disposal expected to be completed soon.

Before incineration, the waste was mixed with lime and other neutralising materials, producing over 800 tonnes of ash. The ash has been sealed in leak-proof bags and stored securely. A dedicated landfill cell is being constructed to permanently dispose it of, following scientific guidelines.

The waste was transported in January amid protests by Pithampur residents over environmental and health concerns, which were dismissed by the state government. Trial incineration of 30 tonnes was conducted earlier, with emissions reportedly found within safe limits at all burn rates tested.

The MPPCB said the waste included reactor residues, pesticide remnants and contaminated soil. No traces of methyl isocyanate or radioactive substances were detected in the incinerated material, the board confirmed.