Bhopal waste disposal: A toxic legacy of neglect

As the world grapples with climate change and industrial disasters, India faces its own toxic legacy: The disposal of 337 tonnes of hazardous waste from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. The Union Carbide factory leak killed over 8,000 people within three days, making it one of the worst industrial disasters in history. Forty years on, the waste continues to contaminate Bhopal’s soil and groundwater, posing severe health risks to local communities.

Recent plans to incinerate this waste at Pithampur, around 250 kilometres from Bhopal, have met with significant opposition, reigniting debates over accountability, environmental justice, and public trust.

The toxic waste at the Union Carbide factory has long leached deadly chemicals into nearby ecosystems. A 2018 study by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research found dangerously high levels of heavy metals, including mercury and lead, in groundwater within a 3 km radius of the factory. Despite repeated warnings and protests, authorities remained inactive until December 2024, when the Madhya Pradesh High Court set a four-week deadline for waste disposal.

Citizens question why the process took 40 years to begin. Doubts surround the decision to transport the waste to Pithampur instead of treating it onsite. Activists allege that real estate interests in Bhopal might have influenced the decision, further eroding public trust. Others are pointing out that Dow, previously Union Carbide, should handle this waste and take all measures for its disposal.

Public resistance 

Protests against the Pithampur incineration have highlighted a glaring lack of communication and transparency. The arrest of protesters and a self-immolation attempt by two men underscore the community’s deep mistrust.

Effective waste management is not merely a logistical challenge but also an exercise in trust-building. Authorities, pollution control boards, and scientists must engage directly with communities, addressing safety concerns with evidence-backed assurances. Without transparency and inclusivity, public resistance will only grow.

The governance gap

The delayed response to the Bhopal waste crisis exposes a systemic governance failure. Successive administrations exhibited apathy, prolonging environmental degradation and health risks for thousands. In fact, activists had to take out an 800 km march from Bhopal to New Delhi to shake the government from its inept responsibility.

Since 2010, the Union government has been seeking additional compensation from Union Carbide and Dow Chemical under the “polluter pays” principle.

However, the companies claim immunity from Indian jurisdiction, and in 2010, the government filed a curative plea arguing that the $470 million settlement of 1989 was inadequate, which the Supreme Court dismissed. This highlights the larger issue of corporate accountability in India, where industries often externalise environmental costs onto communities with little regulatory oversight.

Flawed strategy

Previous attempts by the Madhya Pradesh government to incinerate the toxic waste in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana have faced similar resistance.

In 2012, the German government offered to transport and incinerate this waste in Hamburg but backtracked after German environmental organisations and activists opposed the idea of burning the waste in their country. In addition, India’s experience with incinerators and waste-to-energy plants is suboptimal at best. 

All of the above point to the need to chalk out a systematic, scientific plan for the disposal of hazardous waste at the Bhopal Factory. This plan needs to be communicated transparently to all stakeholders to build trust and increase the acceptance of the programme.  

Following protests in Pithampur, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has given
the state government six weeks to act on the waste disposal after ensuring all safety measures. 

This is a continuing example of a series of projects and a pattern of industrial and regulatory oversight which often cause large-scale environmental and social harm. It is essential that the voices of the marginalised are not undermined in the process of economic growth and development. This not only erodes public trust but also exacerbates the ongoing environmental and health crises in areas already burdened by industrial waste. 

This is one of the biggest cases of hazardous waste treatment exercises in India, and rightly termed as the ‘Hiroshima of the chemical industry’. It is essential that the authorities go back to the drawing board and design a scientific and inclusive process while continuously engaging with residents, researchers and policymakers to allay apprehensions. The overall success of such projects hinges on transparency and participation.  

The implications of this project are enormous as it lays down the roadmap for such projects in future. This will shape the ongoing discussions about environmental justice in India where industrial advancements often come at huge costs to communities. It should be the government’s prerogative to uphold constitutional rights and democratic principles.

Lessons from Bhopal

The Bhopal tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting environmental and public safety. Moving forward, India must embrace a more inclusive model of governance that involves affected communities in decision-making processes.

Transparency and accountability are key. Government officials must ensure that survivors and activists have a platform to voice their concerns. Policies should incorporate scientific research and community insights, offering sustainable, long-term solutions. Only by rebuilding trust can authorities hope to address the lingering scars of Bhopal.

The toxic waste disposal plan is a litmus test for India’s commitment to environmental justice. To move forward, healing must occur—not just in the physical landscape riddled with toxic waste but also in the corridors of power where decisions are made.

The government’s proposed waste disposal plan must be reassessed in light of public dissent — rather than facing it with legal reprisals, authorities should engage with protesters in a dialogue fostering understanding and cooperation. Only through inclusive and transparent processes, which recognise the voices of survivors and communities, can we hope to address the toxic legacy of Bhopal and prevent similar injustices in the future.

As history has shown, the fight for justice is often long and arduous, but the voices of the people must be heard, respected, and valued if we are to ensure that past mistakes are not repeated.

(Tikender Singh Panwar is former deputy mayor, Shimla and member, Kerala Urban Commission. Jane Thomas K is an Urban Planner based in Bengaluru)