Madhya Pradesh government to apprise courts of toxic waste transportation and subsequent protests

Trucks carrying the 337-tonne of toxic chemical waste from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy leave the Union Carbide factory site after 40 years for disposal in Pithampur industrial area near Indore at 9.05 p.m. on January 1, 2025. Photo: A.M. Faruqui/The Hindu

Amid protests over the planned disposal of 337 tonnes of toxic waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy in the Pithampur industrial town of Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has decided to apprise the courts of the latest position on the issue and not proceed until further court orders.

The decision was taken on Friday (January 3, 2025) night during a high-level meeting to review the situation.

“The state government stands firmly with the people. We will not allow any harm to the public. We will bring the matter before the court and proceed with any action only in compliance with the court’s order,” Mr. Yadav told reporters after the meeting.

The Chief Minister has appealed to the citizens not to believe in rumours.

Mr. Yadav held discussions with senior public representatives, top officials from the administration and police, and legal experts in the meeting regarding the transportation of the Union Carbide waste and its dumping and disposal near Pithampur.

He said that they have discussed various aspects of the work related to dumping of Union Carbide waste in the presence of deputy chief ministers Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla, senior MP and state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Rajora, Director General of Police Kailash Makwana, Principal Secretary Law and other senior officials in the Chief Minister’s Office.

Mr. Yadav said, “The Madhya Pradesh government is a government that gives top priority to the interests of the public. Therefore, we have always moved forward with the public interest in mind. In compliance with the Supreme Court’s instructions and the High Court’s order, the Union Carbide waste has been transported to Pithampur.” He said they only transported it while complying with the safety parameters in line with the petitions and orders of the court.

The court had given a deadline for the waste to be sent to the designated place before January 4. The court expected its report by January 6.

Mr. Yadav said he took cognisance of the prevailing situation, and in such circumstances, if any threat or sense of fear arises among the public about security, then the state government will try to present this subject before the court.

Any further action should be taken only after this, he added.

“Whatever order the honourable court gives, we will be ready to follow it. We will not move forward until the court issues any direction,” he stressed.

Earlier in the day, protests rocked Pithampur against the planned disposal of 337 tonnes of toxic waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy, prompting the authorities to clamp prohibitory orders around the premises of the firm where the incineration will be carried out.

During the protests, two persons attempted self-immolation, while sporadic protests continued in several parts of the town amid a bandh call given by the Pithampur Bachao Samiti.