Authorities have transported 337 metric tonnes (MT) of toxic waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, the site of the 1984 gas tragedy, to a disposal facility for incineration. While this marks a notable achievement, the removal represents only a fraction of the hazardous material left behind, with activists and survivors arguing that the core issues of justice and accountability remain unresolved.
Partial clean-up amid larger crisis
The toxic waste is being incinerated at the Pithampur facility, 230 kms from Bhopal, with the process expected to take three to nine months. Authorities have assured the public that scientific methods will be employed, but secrecy surrounding the transportation and handling of the waste has raised questions among locals and activists.
The removed waste is a drop in the ocean compared to the estimated 1.7 lakh MT of toxic sludge buried across 21 pits within the factory premises and an additional 32 acres of a nearby solar evaporation pond. Despite the removal of 337 MT, the contamination of soil and water in the area remains a severe health hazard for nearby communities.
Government’s response and public doubts
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav stated that the waste is being disposed of following court directives and consultations with scientific bodies.
“This waste contains 60% soil and 40% waste related to naphthalene and other types of chemicals. Naphthalene is a co-product from making pesticides, and according to scientists, its effect vanishes in 25 years. As 40 years have passed since the incident, the apprehensions being raised regarding the disposal of the waste automatically vanish,” Yadav said at a press conference.
However, this explanation has not assuaged concerns.
The secrecy surrounding the operation has fueled speculation about whether the transported material was genuinely toxic or something else. Activists argue that Union Carbide or its parent company, Dow Chemical, should bear the cost of clean-up, citing examples such as Hindustan Unilever’s mercury waste disposal to the United States.
In 2019, Hindustan Unilever was forced to send 300 tonnes of mercury waste from its Kodaikanal factory to the US for recycling and permanent disposal after years of legal battles and environmental campaigns, marking a significant milestone in addressing the contamination.
Closure of Sambhavna Trust Clinic
The Sambhavna Trust Clinic, which has supported survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster for 28 years, was shut down on January 1 due to lack of funds. Delays in Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration by the Home Ministry stopped foreign donations, leaving survivors without essential care and staff without jobs.
While the government was busy with the PR of transporting the toxic waste and doing the bare minimum, hundreds of survivors and workers started an indefinite sit-in demanding the government act quickly. The clinic staff today reported to this scribe that FCRA certification of the clinic has now been approved after pressure on the government.
Also read: After 5 Years, FCRA Registration Restored for Sambhavna Trust Working for Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims
A legacy of suffering and neglect
The Bhopal gas tragedy, one of the world’s worst industrial disasters, occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, when a toxic gas leak killed over 5,000 people and affected more than half a million. Decades later, survivors continue to grapple with untreated chronic illnesses, inadequate healthcare and insufficient compensation.
Promises of justice and clean-up remain unfulfilled. Many survivors received just Rs 25,000 as compensation – insufficient to cover medical costs. The emotional scars of losing loved ones and enduring decades of neglect persist. Generations born after the disaster also face health issues linked to the contamination, perpetuating the cycle of suffering.
Nearby neighbourhoods, including Arif Nagar, remain polluted, with minimal infrastructure improvements. Locals express fatigue with recurring media attention that has failed to bring meaningful change or justice.
When this reporter approached the locals, many dismissed us. For the past 40 years, journalists have visited them for stories, but none have been able to deliver the justice they deserve. Some even asked if our report could bring them compensation.
For the locals, however, the garbage left behind is more problematic than the toxic waste. Many are not even aware that the toxic waste was removed. The Bhopal Municipal Corporation does not care about cleaning the area despite multiple requests, as per the locals. Entire settlements nearby are filthy as if abandoned.
Environmental concerns and lessons unlearned
Activists warn that the government’s approach sets a dangerous precedent for handling future environmental disasters, with taxpayers shouldering clean-up costs instead of the responsible corporations. Seven trial runs at the Pithampur incineration facility have previously failed, with five exposing people to dioxins, a carcinogenic chemical.
The Union Carbide factory continues to stand as a grim symbol of unaddressed tragedy, surrounded by busy neighborhoods and leaking toxins into the soil and water. The removal of 337 MT of waste, while a step forward, does little to address the broader crisis or the demands for justice and corporate accountability.
As locals commemorate the 1984 tragedy on Friday, December 3, survivors and activists reiterate their call for a comprehensive clean-up, adequate compensation and long-overdue justice for the thousands who lost their lives or continue to suffer in its aftermath.
Huneza Khan is an independent journalist based in Bhopal.
