Pervez Bari | Clarion India
BHOPAL – The whole city is on the boil following the transfer of the abandoned Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) pesticide factory’s hazardous waste for incineration to Pithampur.
Protests against the move escalated on Friday as two youths attempted self-immolation. Aged between 25 to 27 years, Raju Patel and Rajkumar Raghuvanshi reportedly poured petrol on themselves and started a fire during the agitation. They were immediately taken to the community health centre by the police for treatment.
After the self-immolation attempt, protesters vociferously raised slogans against the Madhya Pradesh government. Administration officials reached the protest site but were unable to pacify the protestors.
The protests gained steam as more people from across communities and classes joined the demonstration. Students, tribals, and Sailana MLA Kamleshwar Dodiyar staged a dharna. The protesters blocked the bus stand area, bringing traffic to a standstill for over half an hour. Vehicles travelling to and from Dhar were diverted via Power House Square and Mahindra Bridge to ease congestion.
After the self-immolation incident, the protestors got agitated and started marching towards Ramky Enviro Industries, where the incineration of the waste was to take place. The police have deployed barriers and hundreds of officers to stop the protestors from reaching the incineration site.
According to sources, after the attempt, the police have increased their monitoring of the protest site near the Pithampur bus stand and confined demonstrators to a designated area to maintain order. Leaders from various political parties have joined the agitation, addressing the crowd and expressing solidarity with their demands.
Meanwhile, members of the Pithampur Bachao Samiti, who recently returned from Delhi, have lent their voices to the growing dissent. The hunger strike led by farmer Sandeep Raghuvanshi also continues unabated. Raghuvanshi vowed not to break his fast until the entire toxic waste was removed from Pithampur.
Pithampur Remains Completely Closed
The industrial town of Pithampur remained completely closed on Friday in protest. Not only small businessmen, but several factories participated in the shutdown. School students, on the other hand, opposed the disposal of hazardous waste in Pithampur fearing environmental and health risks. All private buses stopped operating in the town, causing significant inconvenience to many passengers. However, the residents remained steadfast in their demand for a safer solution to the toxic waste issue.
Political representatives and community leaders from Pithampur are urging the government to reconsider burning the waste in Pithampur. They demand the toxic waste be moved and disposed of at another location to avoid any potential health and environmental disasters.
According to sources, leaders and activists had been appealing to traders and businessmen to support the strike for the past three to four days. This resulted in a complete shutdown on Friday.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has assured that the toxic waste will be disposed of under the strict guidance of scientists, adhering to all environmental standards. He emphasised that the chemical waste will be disposed of in a way there is no harmful impact on the environment.
Addressing the media, the chief minister said, “For the last 40 years, the people of Bhopal have been living with this waste. Many of Govt of India’s organisations were involved in the disposal of this toxic waste. There has been no environmental impact due to the disposal of this toxic waste. The whole process went peacefully. It is also our attempt not to politicise this issue.”
The chief minister emphasised that the waste disposal process will neither harm the environment nor affect groundwater. He added that thorough studies have been conducted before proceeding with the operation.
He explained that the waste being incinerated in Pithampur has already undergone a dry run. “In August 2015, a trial run was conducted to burn the waste and its report was submitted to the Supreme Court. Based on this report, the court directed us to destroy the waste. The reports confirmed that the process will have no negative environmental impact,” he said.
Chief Minister Yadav also said that the high court ordered the disposal process after reviewing the trial results. He assured the public that the government was taking all necessary precautions to ensure safety during the operation.
The chief minister also responded to objections raised by Congress at a protest in Pithampur. He said, “They are raising their voice about Pithampur but never spoke about Bhopal. Bhopal residents have lived with this waste for 40 years. This is not a political issue; we are simply complying with the Supreme Court’s orders,” he said.
