Reconsider Plan To Dispose Union Carbide Waste In Pithampur: Mayor Bhargav In Indore

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav on Tuesday demanded to reconsider the plan to shift 337 tonnes of toxic waste from the now-defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal for dumping it in Pithampur in Dhar district.

Bhargava's demand comes as work to remove the hazardous waste from the factory began on Sunday, weeks after the Madhya Pradesh High Court pulled up authorities for not taking action despite repeated directions to clear the site in Bhopal.

On Sunday morning, half a dozen GPS-enabled trucks with specially reinforced containers reached the factory site as part of the waste disposal process.

"Not destroying this waste in Pithampur will be in the interest of not only this industrial town but also of Indore and the entire state. Therefore, the plan to destroy this waste in Pithampur should be reconsidered, "Bhargav told reporters. He added that since the matter is heard by the high court, I will request the MP chief secretary and the principal secretary of the gas relief and rehabilitation department to hear the people of Pithampur and file a review petition. He said the High Court should be requested to decide on the disposal based on the study of the environmental impact of waste in Pithampur nine years ago.