In the small village of Tarapur in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, 60-year-old vegetable vendor Shivnarayan Dasana has never seen such a heavy police presence. His quiet village, situated in an industrial town known for its automobile and pharmaceutical factories, is now under a tense watch as toxic waste disposal is being carried out just a few miles away.
For the past three weeks, containers holding 337 tonnes of hazardous waste, transported from the site of the infamous 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, have arrived for disposal. The waste, cleared from the now-defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, has stirred deep concerns among the local population, reigniting fears of environmental and health risks related to toxic waste disposal.
What Is the Toxic Legacy of Bhopal?
The waste being disposed of in Pithampur includes several hazardous substances, including pesticide residues and so-called “forever chemicals” – materials that retain their toxic properties indefinitely. These chemicals were a byproduct of Union Carbide’s pesticide manufacturing operations. Over the years, they have seeped into the environment, causing grave health issues for people living around the Bhopal factory.
But it is not just the historical pollution in Bhopal that has locals worried. The arrival of the toxic waste disposal has caused significant unrest in Pithampur. Residents fear that dumping or incinerating the waste near their homes could lead to a potential environmental catastrophe.
Why Did Protests Erupt, and How Did the Police Respond?
The situation became more volatile on January 3, a day after the waste arrived in the town. Local residents, alarmed by the proximity of the waste disposal site, began protesting. The protests quickly escalated into violent clashes, with stone-throwing and even attempts at self-immolation.
Since the protests began, the authorities have heightened their security measures, transforming Tarapur and surrounding areas into a heavily policed garrison. In response to the unrest, the police have filed seven cases against approximately 100 individuals involved in the protests, but the town’s residents remain vocal about their concerns.
Are Government Reassurances Enough to Ease Public Fears?
Government officials, however, continue to assure the public that the toxic waste disposal is safe. Senior official Swatantra Kumar Singh has emphasized the precautions in place. “Hazardous waste will be incinerated at 1,200°C (2,192°F),” he said. “We will begin with test batches of 90kg, followed by 270kg batches over three months, if toxicity levels are deemed safe.” He explained that a “four-layer filtering process” would purify the smoke, preventing toxins from being released into the air. The residue from incineration, according to Singh, will be “sealed in a two-layer membrane” and disposed of in a specialized landfill, preventing contamination of soil and groundwater.
Additionally, Priyank Mishra, an administrator overseeing the disposal, shared that 100 “master trainers” have been trained to explain the process to the public and build trust in the disposal procedure.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has also supported the disposal efforts, calling it both safe and necessary. “The disposal was carried out only after the high court’s directive,” he said, urging residents to express their concerns through legal channels.
What Do Environmental Experts Think About the Disposal Process?
Despite these assurances, not all experts agree with the disposal method. Some, such as Subhash C Pandey, argue that the incineration process, if done correctly, should pose no risk. However, others, like environmental expert Shyamala Mani, have voiced concerns over the long-term environmental impact of incineration. She claims that the incineration process could release harmful toxins, including mercury and dioxins, and leave behind dangerous residual slag.
Mani has suggested an alternative method, known as bioremediation, which involves using microorganisms to break down harmful substances in waste. According to her, bioremediation could provide a safer and more eco-friendly solution compared to incineration.
Despite the expert opinions, the residents of Pithampur remain unconvinced.
Why Do Locals Believe the Waste Is Poison, Not Just Waste?
Gayatri Tiwari, a mother of five from Tarapur, voiced the community’s frustration. “It’s not just waste. It’s poison,” she said. “What’s the point of life if we can’t breathe clean air or drink clean water?”
The residents’ skepticism is rooted in years of pollution in Pithampur. Many point to the town’s rapid industrial growth in the 1980s, which led to hazardous waste buildup and contamination of the water and soil with mercury, arsenic, and sulphates. In 2017, the Central Pollution Control Bureau flagged severe pollution in the area, highlighting the ongoing environmental crisis.
What Are the Health Concerns Linked to Pollution in Pithampur?
Local residents often cite poor water quality as evidence of the pollution’s effects. “Water filters in our homes don’t last two months. Skin diseases and kidney stones are common now. Pollution has made life unbearable,” said Pankaj Patel, a 32-year-old resident of Chirakhan village, showing the damaged water purifier in his home.
Despite these ongoing issues, Srinivas Dwivedi, the regional officer of the State Pollution Control Board, dismissed concerns about the potential risks of the toxic waste disposal, calling it “unrealistic” to expect pre-industrial conditions in Pithampur.
Why Is Bhopal’s Unresolved Toxic Legacy Still a Major Concern?
Meanwhile, in Bhopal, where the original gas leak occurred over three decades ago, activists argue that the focus on the disposal of 337 tonnes of waste in Pithampur is merely a distraction from the much larger problem of continuing contamination. According to reports from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and the National Geophysical Research Institute, over 1.1 million tonnes of contaminated soil remain at the Union Carbide factory site, which continues to pollute the surrounding groundwater.
“The government is making a show of disposing of 337 metric tonnes while ignoring the much bigger problem in Bhopal,” said a prominent environmentalist. “The contamination has worsened over the years, yet the government has done little to address it,” added another activist.
The devastating consequences of the 1984 gas leak, which killed over 3,500 people initially and led to more than 15,000 deaths over the following years, still haunt the survivors and their families. Activists claim that the toll is much higher, and many victims continue to suffer from the long-term effects of the poisoning.
How Does the Mistrust in the Government Affect the Situation in Pithampur?
For many residents of Pithampur, the ongoing environmental challenges in their town, combined with the unresolved pollution issues in Bhopal, have only deepened their mistrust of government assurances. “Given Pithampur’s history of pollution, residents’ fears are valid,” said the environmentalist.
Despite the official reassurances, the reality of Bhopal’s environmental crisis looms large, and the people of Pithampur are preparing to protest once again. Vegetable vendor Shivnarayan Dasana, reflecting the sentiment of many in the town, put it simply: “It’s about survival – ours and our children’s.”
