Description

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Context:

Madhya Pradesh government authorities moved 358 tonnes of hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide facility in Bhopal to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district.

About the Bhopal Gas Disaster

Aspect	Details
Chemical Name	Methyl Isocyanate (CH₃NCO)
Physical State	Volatile, colorless liquid
Flammability	Extremely flammable and potentially explosive when mixed with air
Reactivity	Reacts with water, releasing heat and producing methylamine and carbon dioxide.
Toxicity	Toxic if inhaled, swallowed, or in contact with eyes or skin.
Initiatives for Chemical Accidents
NDMA Guidelines for Chemical Disaster Management	An inspection system by regulatory authorities creates an information network system with states and districts on a priority basis.
Explosives Act, 1884	Regulates the manufacture, possession, use, transport, and importation of explosives.
Chemical Accidents Regulations 1996	It focuses on emergency planning, preparedness, and response to chemical accidents.

The reasons for the disaster

Safety systems such as gas scrubbers and cooling systems were either inoperative or inadequate.
Lack of proper training of workers and failure to follow safety protocols.
Union Carbide lowered personnel and safety standards to reduce operating costs.
Faulty equipment design increased the risk of gas leaks.
An excessive amount of MIC was stored at the plant in violation of safety guidelines.

Union Carbide Waste Disposal

Hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide plant was transported in closed container trucks from Bhopal to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district, 250 km away, for disposal.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy Waste Disposal

The Bhopal gas tragedy was the result of a poisonous gas leak at the Union Carbide factory, originally established for the production of fertilizers.
The waste at the site consists of fertilizer additives that have gone untreated for decades.
Planned liquidation: The Madhya Pradesh government planned to burn 377 tonnes of hazardous waste at the Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) in Pithampur, 200 km from Bhopal.
The waste was packed and labeled according to the Rules for the Management of Hazardous Waste and transported in secure containers.

Challenges

Protests by residents in Pithampur over fears of harmful emissions from incineration delayed the disposal process.
High Court intervention: On January 6, 2025, the Madhya Pradesh High Court gave the state government six weeks to dispose of the waste safely. The state has also been directed to raise public awareness about disposal methods and their environmental and health safeguards.

Impacts

Aspect	Details
Waste Composition	4.8 tons of recovered waste
	1.6 tons of partially processed residue
	1.3 tons of naphthol waste (precursor to carbaryl)
	1.3 tons of carbaryl residue
	0.8 tons of reactor residue
Water Quality Concerns	A December 2024 CPCB report found water near the Pithampur TSDF with higher than permissible levels of:
	· Concentration of colors, chlorides, sulfates, and fluorides
	· Hardness and total dissolved solids (TDS)
	· Problems identified in two open wells near the landfill were attributed to general groundwater quality rather than TSDF operations.
Health Claims	Media reports on higher skin disease incidence around TSDF suppressed.
Health Claims	Surveys by AIIMS Bhopal and the Indian Council of Medical Research showed lower-than-average cases of skin and respiratory diseases compared to national levels.
Combustion Residues & Hazards	2015 reports indicated incineration produced four times more ash and residue than incinerated waste.
	The remaining waste is disposed of in a seepage-proof TSDF landfill.
	EPA notes that composite liners in hazardous waste landfills degrade over time and need regular replacement to prevent contamination.

Way Forward

Aspect	Details
Temporary Action	The Madhya Pradesh government has postponed the incineration of waste due to local protests and security concerns.
Public Education Efforts	Authorities will train 50 master trainers (science teachers, professors, and officials) to educate residents about waste disposal.
Upcoming Trial Run	A test operation will burn 90 kg of waste at 1200 °C.
Scientific Rationale	Organic compounds like 1-naphthol are destroyed at 590–650 °C.
	Hazardous waste incinerators at 980–1200 °C can effectively eliminate organic contaminants.
Full-Scale Burn Plan	If emissions remain within legal limits, waste will be incinerated in batches of 270 kg over three months.
	If emissions exceed limits, batch sizes will be reduced, and the incineration period may extend to nine months.
Next Steps	The next Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for February 18, 2025, to review progress and decide the next course of action.

READ ABOUT

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Bhopal Disaster: Toxic Legacy and Environmental Impact

Source:

THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss the causes and consequences of the Bhopal Gas Disaster of 1984. In light of the tragedy, evaluate the effectiveness of industrial safety regulations in India and suggest measures to prevent such disasters in the future. (250 words)