Bhopal gas tragedy: Toxic waste from world’s deadliest industrial disaster taken away for disposal after 40 years
IndependentJan 01
India: Toxic Waste from Bhopal Gas Leak Moved After 40 Years
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Above: Rusting tanks inside the now derelict Union Carbide factory compound. Image copyright: Satish Bate/Contributor/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
The Facts
Indian authorities transported 337 metric tons of toxic waste from the former Union Carbide factory site in Bhopal to a disposal facility 142 miles away in Pithampur on Wednesday night.
This comes 40 years after the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster — which killed over 5K people immediately and poisoned more than half a million residents — when methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the pesticide factory on Dec. 3.
At least 12 sealed container trucks — accompanied by police escorts, ambulances, and fire engines — transported the hazardous materials, including pesticide residue and "forever chemicals," through a specially created green corridor.
The Spin
Narrative A
This is a shameless PR stunt and a deceptive act of greenwashing. Four decades ago, one of the worst industrial disasters in the world left hundreds of thousands of people with severe and long-lasting health issues, including cancer, stillbirths, miscarriages, lung and heart disease. The incineration of the waste will result in another tragedy, leading to further groundwater contamination and toxic exposure when solid waste is buried in landfills.
Narrative B
The waste disposal process is safe and will be conducted under strict protocols. Special four-layer filters will prevent air pollution, and the residue will be sealed with a two-layer membrane to protect soil and water, ensuring no harm to the local ecosystem. The waste will undergo scientific disposal through incineration to ensure that fumes don't pollute the air and water. It's wrong to politicize the issue or spread misinformation when the waste is disposed of with full caution.
