Toxic Waste at Bhopal Disaster Site
Source: The Hindu
GS II: Disaster
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Bhopal Tragedy
- About Methyl Isocyanate Gas
Why in News?
Despite warnings and directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), 337 metric tonnes (MT) of hazardous waste stored on the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) premises the site of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy is yet to be disposed of, according to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) submitted to the green court.
News in Brief
- The site contained 346 MT hazardous matter.
- On a trial based 10MT of waste shifted to a facility in Pithampur.
- Later the tender was invited to clear the remaining waste has a little progress in shifting.
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) minister Bhupender Yadav recommended the Department of Expenditure to release ₹ 126 crore to the M.P. government for remediation and disposal of the 337 MT of toxic waste.
About Bhopal Tragedy
- At least 3,800 people died as a direct result of the release of more than 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas from a pesticide plant
Image by Peter H from Pixabay in Bhopal, India, on December 3, 1984.
- Thousands more had major illness and premature mortality as a result of the leak.
- The firm responsible for the biggest industrial tragedy in history wanted to escape legal liability as soon as possible.
- Through the intervention of the Indian Supreme Court, it eventually came to an agreement with the Indian Government and took moral responsibility.
- Due to substantial underestimations of both the number of persons exposed and the long-term health effects of exposure, it only paid out $470 million in compensation.
About Methyl Isocyanate Gas
- The organic substance methyl isocyanate (MIC) has the chemical formula CH3NCO.
- Isocyanatomethane and methyl carbylamine are synonyms.
- Methyl isocyanate is a chemical used as a starting point for the creation of carbamate insecticides.
- It is a colorless, poisonous, lachrymatory, flammable liquid.
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