GOM reverses decision to transfer Bhopal toxic waste

The Group of Ministers on Friday reversed its earlier decision to transfer the toxic waste from Union Carbide’s factory in Bhopal to Pitampur following apprehensions raised by residents of Indore.

The Group of Ministers on Friday reversed its earlier decision to transfer the toxic waste from Union Carbide’s factory in Bhopal to Pitampur following apprehensions raised by residents of Indore.

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The GoM headed by Home Minister Pranab Mukerjee has decided that a technical committee will consider options for safe disposal of 350 tonnes of leftover toxic waste and will submit a report, Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said on Friday.

The options are to burn the waste in cement plants, bury it at the Union Carbide factory site, take it to Defence Research and Development Organisation’s hazardous treatment facility near Nagpur and explore whether it can be shipped to any European nation.

“The committee will submit its report in the next two months and will recommend a realistic option,” Ramesh said, who headed an oversight committee on remediation of the site.

On construction a memorial at the factory, the Madhya Pradesh government has been asked to make a presentation regarding the design of the memorial. “The decision on whether to demolish entire factory or not will be taken after the presentation,” the minister said.