The Bhopal Group For Information and Action feels that thousands of tonnes of toxic chemical waste of infamous 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy is still dangerously polluting the area.
Satneesh Shadangi of the organisation said the pollution due to the toxic material in the Union Carbide premises is steadily rising. However, successive governments have failed to act to contain this, posing a direct threat to life.
Thousands of tonnes of chemical waste, which has been dumped in the plant’s premises for so many years, is growing. A large area of soil is getting polluted each year, he added.
He further stated that from 1990 to 2013, 17 studies have been conducted by different NGOs that have revealed that in a radius of about 3.5 km area, the water table upto 100 feet is polluted. The soil has also been polluted with pesticides and the presence of toxins. All this is dangerous for humans. According to government figures, efforts are being made to get rid of the chemical waste which, over the years, has grown to 18,000 tonnes.
Researchers argue that disease can be prevented and the pollution of the soil, water in the area can be curtailed after a concise study is carried out to find out the continued after-effects of the disaster. But the government has not conducted any scientific research of the area.
Consequently, the demand for a study was raised under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) only to be rejected by the central government.