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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
All 337 tonnes of Union Carbide waste incinerated at MP plant, says official
All 337 tonnes of hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal have been incinerated at a disposal facility in Pithampur, nearly six months after being transported there, according to a statement from the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, cited by news agency PTI on Monday. The toxic waste has been lying abandoned in the defunct Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) factory for the past 40 years. (File photo) The incineration, marking a major step in closing a tragic chapter of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster, was carried out following an order from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. According to regional officer Srinivas Dwivedi, the last phase of the burning process — covering 307 tonnes — began on May 5 and concluded on the night of June 29-30. 'The process of burning 307 tonnes of the factory waste at the disposal plant operated by a private company in Pithampur began around 7.45 pm on May 5 and ended on the intervening night of June 29-30 at 1 am,' he told PTI. Also Read | Toxic waste shifted from Bhopal's Union Carbide factory for disposal after 40 years Earlier, 30 tonnes of the waste were destroyed in three trial runs. In total, the entire 337 tonnes have now been burnt to ash. No info on impact on locals' health The disposal was done under the supervision of experts from both the Central and State Pollution Control Boards. Dwivedi said the waste was incinerated at a maximum rate of 270 kg per hour, with emissions monitored in real time through an online system. 'We have no information about any adverse effect on the health of people living in the surrounding areas during the incineration of the waste,' he added. Also Read | 337 MT toxic waste from Bhopal gas leak site to be shifted to Pithampur The waste included soil from the Union Carbide premises, reactor residue, and remnants of pesticides like Sevin and naphthol. However, the board clarified that the waste contained no trace of methyl isocyanate — the toxic gas that caused the disaster — and no radioactive material. The remaining ash and other byproducts are currently being stored in sealed, leak-proof bags inside the plant. Dwivedi said special landfill cells are being built to bury the residue using scientific methods. "If everything goes well, these residue will also be disposed of by December. Before this, the residue will be treated scientifically so that their burial does not cause any harm to the environment," he said. The toxic waste was brought to the Pithampur facility in Dhar district, about 250 km from Bhopal, on January 2. The 1984 gas tragedy — one of the world's worst industrial disasters — occurred when methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal on the night of December 2–3. The leak killed at least 5,479 people and left thousands injured or disabled. (With PTI inputs)
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
PCB issues closure order to pharma co for violations
Indore: The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (PCB) issued a closure order to a pharmaceutical company and show cause notices to three other units located in the Sanwer Road industrial area for allegedly discharging untreated wastewater into the environment, causing pollution. The notices were issued under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974. According to PCB, notices were issued to companies including Rajesh Food, Prince Wafers, and Yuno Industry. Meanwhile, Garima Health Pvt Ltd was ordered to close down for its violation of the Water Act. "We take violations of pollution regulations very seriously. These industries were found violating the norms and contributing significantly to causing pollution. We will continue to take stringent action against industries that fail to comply with environmental laws," said SN Dwivedi, the Regional Officer of the Pollution Control Board in Indore. As per a study by the regional PCB, there are around 255 water-polluting industrial units spread across various industrial areas, including Sanwer Road, Pologround, Bardari, Kumedhi, Laxmibai Nagar, and Palda. These industries collectively generate an estimated 1,625 kilolitre per day (KLD) of wastewater. The Sanwer industrial area alone is home to the highest number of these industries, totalling 197, followed by Palda and Bardari. The PCB stated that more inspections will be carried out in industrial areas to ensure industries use effluent treatment plants and adhere to environmental regulations to safeguard public health and the environment.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Evening showers bring relief from afternoon heat
Indore: Eastern parts of Indore experienced a brief spell of rain on Wednesday evening, 9.5mm, between 6.45 pm and 7.45 pm, according to Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board's monitoring station at Regal Square. The western parts received only 1.9 mm of rainfall, accompanied by strong gusty winds that swept across various parts of the city, brought a welcome respite from afternoon heat. The Meteorological Centre at Indore Airport recorded a total of 127.5 mm of rainfall in the city for the month of May so far, while the Regal monitoring station reported a slightly higher cumulative figure of 132.75 Wednesday, the maximum temperature in Indore was recorded at 36.8 degrees Celsius, which is 3 degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature stood at 23.6 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels ranged from 69% in the morning to 51% by the Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued rainfall activity in Madhya Pradesh till May 18. At its current pace, the monsoon is expected to reach the state by June 15. As per Met department's latest update, the southwest monsoon advanced into some parts of South Bay of Bengal, south Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands, and some parts of the North Andaman Sea on per IMD, heavy rain and thunderstorms were reported in several other districts like Neemuch and Mandsaur, along with Indore on Wednesday. A lightning and light rain alert has also been issued for 12 districts, including Indore, Ujjain, Jhabua, Dhar, Alirajpur, Barwani, Khargone, Khandwa, Dewas, and Meteorologist Dr Divya E. Surendran said that due to active weather systems, rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds may persist in parts of the state until May 18.
