MP HC seeks govt’s reply on safety of 900 MT toxic ash from Union Carbide waste

Jabalpur/Indore, April 23 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday directed the state government to file its response to an intervenor’s application raising concerns over the toxicity of 900 metric tonnes of residual ash from the Union Carbide site, currently buried at a waste management facility in Pithampur.

The matter came up for hearing before a division bench of Justice Vivek Kumar Singh and Justice Ajay Kumar Nirankari.

The court asked the state to respond to the application filed by an NGO, which has questioned the safety of disposing of the toxic ash at the Pithampur facility.

The issue traces back to a March 16 order of the Supreme Court, which had asked the intervenor to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court for a comprehensive assessment of the toxic waste.

Earlier, in July 2025, an intervention application was filed highlighting that significant quantities of hazardous substances, including mercury and other heavy metals, were unaccounted for in the 900 MT of toxic ash.

An expert affidavit submitted by IIT professor Asif Qureshi had warned that these toxic elements remain present in the ash and could pose serious environmental and public health risks if buried in a landfill.

Taking note of these concerns, a High Court bench led by Justice Sreedharan had, in July and again in October 2025, directed the state government to identify an alternative disposal site away from human habitation and specifically not at Pithampur.

However, the state government later sought recall of these directions.

In December 2025, another bench of the High Court allowed the application and permitted disposal of the toxic waste at the Pithampur facility.

During the latest hearing, it was also said that the state government has yet to file a detailed affidavit outlining a timeline for assessment and remediation of toxic waste still lying at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) premises in Bhopal.

Large quantities of hazardous material remain buried in 21 pits and in Solar Evaporation Ponds at the site.

The petitioner reiterated that under the “polluter pays” principle, Union Carbide Corporation and Dow Chemical should bear the cost of cleanup and remediation.

Separately, the state government told the court that it has sought additional time to submit a comprehensive plan for assessment and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater in and around the UCIL site.

The state government told the court that a meeting was held on March 3, 2026, with senior officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ashok Barnwal, to identify agencies capable of undertaking the work.

The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for June 22.

–IANS

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