The Bhopal gas tragedy's hazardous waste was finally being transported on Wednesday night to a disposal plant in Pithampur, 230 km away from the state capital, after the Madhya Pradesh High Court asked, "Are you waiting for another tragedy?"
The convoy, comprising 40 vehicles and 337 metric tons of toxic waste, left Bhopal under heavy security, with police and emergency vehicles escorting it along a green corridor.
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The waste was stored in sealed containers, ensuring its safe transport. "Transportation to Pithampur has begun. The convoy has been fortified with the highest security protocol ever witnessed in movement of industrial waste in the country," said Swatantra Kumar Singh, director of MP’s gas relief and rehabilitation department.
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After 40 years of waiting, the waste will undergo incineration at Pithampur Waste Management Pvt Ltd, where it is expected to be disposed of scientifically within three to nine months, said Singh.
The decision to move the waste followed strong directives from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which set a deadline for disposal. "Are you waiting for another tragedy?" the court had asked in a December 3 order.
To reassure the public, MP Pollution Control Board official Shriniwas Dwivedi released a video detailing safety measures at the Pithampur plant. "A special shed has been created with a concrete floor. It is leakproof," Dwivedi stated, ensuring no risk to the environment or people. However, workers at other industrial plants in Pithampur have expressed concerns about potential risks, with many employees fearing fallout.