Hundreds rally against Bhopal Gas Waste in Pithampur
Residents of Pithampur took to the streets to protest against the burning of toxic waste related to the Bhopal gas tragedy in Pithampur Industrial Area. Hundreds of locals raised slogans such as "Bhopal's garbage will not burn in Pithampur" and held signboards in their hands at the rally which was taken out on Saturday night.
Sailana MLA Kamleshwar Dodiyar said the rally was a symbol of knowledge, hope and unity. "We want to send a message that the people of Pithampur are united and we will not allow this garbage to be burnt here. Four decades after the tragic incident called the "Bhopal Gas Tragedy", dubbed as the world's worst industrial disaster, toxic waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal was taken to Pithampur for safe disposal on the night of January 1.
The Bhopal gas tragedy claimed several thousand lives after a deadly gas leak from the Union Carbide India Limited's pesticide plant on the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984. On January 6, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the state government was committed to taking action as per the directions of the High Court in this case.
Speaking to the media on Monday, the Chief Minister said, "Based on various directions of the Supreme Court and High Court for disposal of toxic waste from the Union Carbide factory site, we transported it to Pithampur as it is the only facility where all kinds of chemicals containing harmful elements are processed by scientific methods." We again presented our case before the High Court, as I had announced earlier that we will seek time from the court for all these things till we take all the people into confidence. I am satisfied that the High Court has accepted it and given six weeks' time for it. "
"In the meantime, all parties and if anyone else wants to present their case, they can put it before the court and the state government will abide by the court's decision," he said. Petitioners' counsel Naman Nagrath said the state government sought six weeks' time to comply with the December 3 order, on which the high court granted that time to the government. The next hearing of the case will be on February 18.