Submitting an undertaking to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Madhya Pradesh government has said that science-based steps will be employed for the disposal of the Union Carbide toxic waste in the industrial town of Pithampur.
Sources say the submission by the state government resonates with its reports submitted to the Supreme Court and the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The undertaking pledges the state government's commitment to safety measures while reiterating the promise to involve the local community in Pithampur before the start of waste disposal procedures.
The district administration will make the scientific report public. A special team of scientists, local citizens, and university representatives will be formed to provide complete information about the storage and disposal of waste in Pithampur.
The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by PG Najpande and Rajat Bhargava on behalf of the Nagrik Upbhokta Margdarshak Manch, who had sought an affidavit on the projected impact of the disposal process on land, water, and air in the area.
The petitioners were also seeking assurances from the Municipal Commissioners of Bhopal, Dhar, and Pithampur over the safety of the people.
NGT judge Shiv Kumar Singh and expert member Afroz Ahmed dismissed the petition, saying that the matter is already pending in the High Court.
According to the petitioners' lawyer, Prabhat Yadav, the state government stated during the hearing that the Pollution Control Board and scientists will monitor the chemicals released from incineration, and a standard operating procedure will be prepared to address the issues.
Earlier this month, street protests had erupted in Pithampur following the arrival of nearly 337 metric tonnes of toxic waste from the now-defunct Union Carbide factory premises in Bhopal.
The waste has long remained a flashpoint of controversy, with activists claiming insufficient studies into the impact that disposal of the waste could cause.
Following a deadline set by the High Court, the state government had dispatched the toxic waste on board a convoy of 12 container trucks amid tight security and safety measures.
