New Delhi: Government will spend Rs 30 crore
in removing 346 metric tonnes of toxic waste from the Bhopal
gas tragedy site, over 25 years after the deadly industrial
disaster took place.
The waste will be taken to Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) controlled incineration
facility near Nagpur, Maharashtra.
"The toxic waste of 346 MT has been kept safely in a
secured godown within the premises of the erstwhile M/s Union
Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) at Bhopal... The DRDO has agreed to
undertake safe disposal of toxic waste currently lying at the
erstwhile UCIL, Bhopal in its incineration facility at
Borkhedi near Nagpur," the Ministry of Environment and Forest
said in reply to an RTI query.
"The sole responsibility of safe transportation of toxic
waste from Bhopal to the DRDO facility will be that of the
Government of Madhya Pradesh," it said.
According to a government data, compensation of over Rs
3000 crore has been given in 5,295 cases of death, 4,902 for
sustaining permanent disability, 5,27,894 cases of minor
injury and 35,455 related to temporary disability among
others.
The disaster took place at the Union Carbide plant on the
intervening night of December 2-3, 1984.
"The total cost for the incineration of the toxic waste
would be Rs 30 crore excluding the cost of transportation of
waste from Bhopal to the DRDO incineration facility at
Borkhedi near Nagpur," it said in reply to an RTI application.
"Till date, no waste has been removed from the UCIL site
as the matter is under sub judice of the High Court of Madhya
Pradesh," the reply said.
PTI
