Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Post-midnight on December 3, 1984, Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) (Chemical formula- CH3NCO or C2H3NO) leaked from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide (now Dow Chemicals), an MNC, in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal.
It is estimated that about 40 tonnes of gas and other chemicals leaked from the Union Carbide factory.
Methyl isocyanate is extremely toxic gas and if its concentration in the air touches 21ppm (parts per million), it can cause death within minutes of inhaling the gas.
It is one of the worst chemical disasters globally and still continues to have its ill effects on the people of the affected areas.
After the tragedy, the government of India enacted a Public Liability Insurance Act (1991), making it mandatory for industries to get insurance
The premium for this insurance would contribute to an Environment Relief Fund to provide compensation to victims of a Bhopal-like disaster.
After Effects
Decades after the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, large amounts of toxic waste remain at the Union Carbide India Ltd. (UCIL) site, despite multiple court orders for disposal.
₹126 crore has been allocated to dispose of 337 tonnes of toxic waste collected in 2005, but the State government has not started the process.
An additional 11 lakh tonnes of contaminated soil and other hazardous materials remain unresolved.
A 2010 government study identified the waste and recommended further action.
A reassessment of toxicity has been pending for 14 years, with no significant progress despite a proposal for fresh studies in 2023.
Groundwater near the factory has been found contaminated with heavy metals, posing health risks.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) criticized the government for inaction and warned about further contamination.
UCIL’s negligent disposal practices from 1969 to 1984 left hazardous wastes, which have damaged groundwater.
Previous attempts to dispose of the waste have been ineffective, and authorities have failed to follow through on directives from the NGT.
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