Can Bhopal waste be safely disposed of?

Sub: Env

Sec: Pollution

Context:

On January 2, 2025, authorities in Madhya Pradesh began moving 358 tonnes of hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide facility in Bhopal to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district.
The waste consists of materials used to manufacture fertilizers, which were part of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster that killed over 4,000 people. The waste had been lying at the Union Carbide facility for nearly 40 years.

Court’s Mandate:

In December 2024, the Madhya Pradesh High Court set a four-week deadline for the disposal of the hazardous waste.
Protests in Pithampur over fears of harmful emissions have delayed the incineration process, with the Madhya Pradesh High Court extending the deadline to February 2025.

Why Pithampur:

The Central government allocated ₹126 crore to assist the state in incinerating the waste and depositing its residue in the Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) at Pithampur.
The Pithampur facility was chosen by the Supreme Court in 2012 as the most suitable destination for the hazardous waste, as it is the only TSDF in the state with both a landfill and an incinerator.

Trial Process:

The waste includes chemicals like naphthol, carbaryl, and reactor residues, all by products from the fertilizer production process at Union Carbide.
A trial incineration in 2015 successfully destroyed 10.1 tonnes of waste, with emissions reportedly within legal limits.

Environmental Concerns:

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) conducted tests on water samples around the Pithampur TSDF, which revealed elevated concentrations of chloride, sulphate, fluoride, and total dissolved solids.
However, experts have suggested these issues are related to natural groundwater quality, not directly caused by the TSDF operations.
Environmental concerns were also raised about the amount of ash and residue generated from incineration. It is reported that the residue is four times the weight of the original waste. However, the CPCB has promised to manage the residue in a landfill with proper leachate containment.

Future Steps:

To address local concerns, the state plans to improve public confidence by conducting awareness programs.
Additionally, another trial incineration of a 90-kg batch of the waste will be conducted at 1,200°C. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), organic compounds like naphthol are destroyed at temperatures between 590°C to 650°C.
The incineration process will be closely monitored to ensure emissions remain within legal limits. If the emissions exceed safe levels, the state plans to reduce the batch size and extend the duration of incineration.