Bhopal’s waste can be disposed of in Germany

The Madhya Pradesh government got in-principle approval from a specially constituted Group of Ministers, headed by home minister P Chidambaram, on Monday to dispose of about 350 metric tonnes of Union Carbide toxic waste in Germany.

The Madhya Pradesh government got in-principle approval from a specially constituted Group of Ministers, headed by home minister P Chidambaram, on Monday to dispose of about 350 metric tonnes of Union Carbide toxic waste in Germany.

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The company GIZ, in which the German government has stakes, has proposed to dispose of the toxic waste in a modern incinerator in Germany.

“The company has assured of getting approval from the government in five days,” an official said.

A GIZ proposal was discussed at the GoM constituted to deliberate on issues emerging after the Supreme Court judgment in the Bhopal gas tragedy case.

Madhya Pradesh Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Relief and Rehabilitation minister Babulal Gaur said the GoM has asked the state government to put up a detailed proposal in this regard during the next meeting scheduled on June 8.

Gaur had on May 17 held a discussion with GIZ in Bhopal.

The government's attempt to dispose of the toxic waste within India had failed because of protest by locals. However, it is to be seen how Germans react to GIZ proposal and GoM's in-principle approval.

About 346 MT toxic waste is lying within the premises of the erstwhile Union Carbide plant at Bhopal.