Second Round of Trial Incineration of Union Carbide Waste Commences in Pithampur

The second phase of trial incineration for waste from the Union Carbide factory commenced late Wednesday at a disposal facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh. This phase involves burning an additional 10 tonnes of waste, according to an official. The waste, part of 337 tonnes from the Bhopal disaster site, was transported to Pithampur on January 2 for safe disposal.

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State Pollution Control Board regional officer Srinivas Dwivedi informed reporters about the commencement of the second trial incineration round at the Pithampur plant. Before introducing the waste, the incinerator will operate empty for 12 hours to reach a specific temperature. During this phase, 180 kg of waste will be incinerated hourly, totalling 10 tonnes.

Waste Disposal Process and Safety Measures

The Madhya Pradesh High Court mandated three rounds of waste disposal trials with strict safety protocols. A report on these trials is due by March 27. The first phase concluded on March 3, having started on February 28. In this initial phase, 135 kg of waste was incinerated every hour over approximately 75 hours.

During the first trial round, emissions such as particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and total organic carbon were within permissible limits. The state government confirmed that the waste includes soil from the factory premises, reactor residue, Sevin pesticide residue, and naphthalene.

Environmental and Health Concerns

Scientific evidence suggests that chemicals like Sevin and naphthalene in the waste have negligible effects now. The board also confirmed no presence of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas or radioactive particles in the waste. On December 2-3, 1984, MIC gas leaked from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, causing at least 5,479 deaths and many injuries.

The transportation of factory waste to Pithampur sparked protests over potential harm to local populations and environments. Despite these concerns, the state government assured that sufficient measures are in place for safe industrial waste disposal at Pithampur.

The ongoing efforts to safely dispose of hazardous materials from the Union Carbide site reflect a commitment to addressing environmental and public health concerns while adhering to legal requirements. The process aims to mitigate any potential risks associated with this historical industrial disaster.