HC gives Madhya Pradesh govt six weeks to act on Union Carbide factory waste with caution

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday granted the state government six weeks to dispose of Union Carbide factory waste, adhering to safety guidelines. The court also directed media outlets to avoid inaccurate reporting on the disposal process.

This decision came after the waste, contained in 12 sealed containers, was moved from Bhopal to a disposal site in Pithampur, Dhar district, on January 2. Advocate general Prashant Singh requested additional time from the court, explaining the need to address public concerns in Pithampur stemming from what he described as 'fictitious and fake news.'

The court, comprised of chief justice SK Kait and justice Vivek Jain, agreed to the extension. The judges also instructed print, audio, and visual media to refrain from publishing incorrect information on the matter.

This action follows a recent protest in Pithampur, where two individuals attempted self-immolation over concerns about the waste disposal’s potential environmental and health impacts.

The state government also requested three days to unload the sealed containers, a request the court acknowledged as the state's prerogative, provided safety guidelines are followed.

The waste disposal issue stems from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. On the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, killing at least 5,479 persons and leaving thousands with serious injuries and long-lasting health issues.

During a December 2024 hearing, the court criticised authorities for the delay in waste disposal, describing it as a 'state of inertia' that could lead to further problems. The petitioner’s counsel, Naman Nagrath, emphasised the need for safe disposal after testing.