Madhya Pradesh HC grants six weeks for Union Carbide waste disposal in Pithampu

The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted the state government six weeks to act on the disposal of waste from the Union Carbide factory, in compliance with safety guidelines. The court also instructed the media to refrain from spreading incorrect news about the issue.

On January 2, the waste, packed in 12 sealed containers, was transferred from Bhopal to the disposal site in Pithampur, Dhar district. The court's division bench, comprising Chief Justice SK Kait and Justice Vivek Jain, granted the state additional time after Advocate General Prashant Singh requested it. Singh argued that the government needed to reassure the residents of Pithampur and alleviate their fears before proceeding with the disposal.

Singh also informed the court that unrest had spread in Pithampur due to false and misleading reports about the waste disposal. In response, the bench issued a directive to the media to refrain from publishing incorrect information.

Recent protests had escalated, with two men attempting to self-immolate in opposition to the waste disposal plans, claiming that the process would harm both human health and the environment. The state government also requested an additional three days to unload the waste from the sealed containers. The court clarified that it was the state's responsibility to ensure the safe disposal of the waste, following established guidelines.

The case dates back to the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster, when methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked from the Union Carbide factory, resulting in the deaths of at least 5,479 people and leaving thousands with lasting health issues. During a previous hearing in December 2024, the court criticized the authorities for their failure to dispose of the hazardous waste, which had been lying at the now-defunct factory for decades. The court warned of contempt proceedings if its order to remove and transport the waste within four weeks was not followed.

The current case stemmed from a 2004 petition filed for the disposal of the waste from the Union Carbide plant, responsible for one of the worst industrial disasters in history. Petitioner's counsel, Naman Nagrath, urged the court on Monday to ensure the waste was safely disposed of following proper testing.