The 377 metric tonnes of toxic waste finally left the factory for its incineration, 40 years after the deadly 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy that killed over 5000 people after toxic ‘methyl isocyanate’ (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide unit.
Scientific reports, including those from pollution control boards, confirmed the waste’s role in water contamination, necessitating incineration in a foolproof process elsewhere, DTE reported.
The first plea to clean the site was filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court in August 2004 but the sluggish process extended the timeline to 40 years, the DTE report stated, adding this marked the beginning of the historic relocation process. The waste, packed in 12 sealed containers, was shifted from Bhopal to the disposal site at Pithampur in Dhar district on January 2.
Two men tried to immolate themselves during a protest against the planned disposal of the Union Carbide waste at Pithampur, about 30 km from Indore. Furthermore, the state sought three days to unload the waste shifted from Bhopal to Pithampur in 12 sealed containers.
Methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, killing at least 5,479 persons and leaving thousands with serious injuries and long-lasting health issues.
Keep the Ganga water of drinking and bathing quality during Maha Kumbh: NGT
Authorities have to ensure that river water quality of Ganaga river at the Maha Kumbh Mela is of “drinking water/bathing water quality” at all times, the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT’s) has ordered the Uttar Pradesh government and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Indian Express reported that the green court has asked to ensure no untreated sewage is discharged into the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. The order further went on to state that CPCB and UPPCB have to collect water samples from Ganga and Yamuna rivers at least twice a week from the monitoring points and they would have to display analysis reports on their website. Sewage generation is estimated to increase by 10% during the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, which will continue for 45 days till February end. The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, will begin in Prayagraj on January 13 and end on February 26.
Again, Centre denies direct correlation between air pollution and deaths
The Union Environment Ministry denied that there is conclusive data to establish a direct correlation of deaths due to air pollution, in a written submission in the House. Earlier Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health, made a similar statement in Rajya Sabha on July 30. Both the Union Environment Ministry and Health Ministry have maintained that there is no direct correlation between mortality and air pollution., reported the Indian Express.
However, the newspaper added that Centre’s advisory on air pollution in November 2024 quoted the 2021 ICMR study, which said that 1.7 million deaths in India in 2019 were attributable to air pollution. Of this, the largest proportions were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (32.5 per cent), ischemic heart disease (29.2 per cent), stroke (16.2 per cent) and lower respiratory infections (11.2 per cent).
In July 2024, a first-of-its-kind multi-city study in India published in Lancet revealed that about 11.5 percent of deaths in Delhi every year, roughly 12,000 deaths, can be attributed to air pollution. It said that 33,000 deaths could be attributed to air pollution every year on average. The researchers – from India and abroad – had obtained daily death data from civil registries in the 10 cities between 2008 and 2019. The National Green Tribunal had sent notices to authorities following the report.
Noise pollution: Bombay high court seeks compliance report on its ban on illegal loudspeakers from govt
The Bombay high court directed Maharashtra’s home department and police to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken to comply with the high court’s directions regarding illegal loudspeakers. The court was hearing a contempt petition alleging non-compliance with its directives against loudspeakers issued in August 2016, the HT reported.
The court was informed that the government was aware of at least 2,940 illegal loudspeakers based on the government’s response to an RTI application. Nearly 37 directions were earlier issued by the court in a 2016 judgement dealing with noise pollution, report added.
The Supreme Court had observed that noise can disturb sleep, communication, damage hearing and evoke other gynaecological and pathological reactions.
The court had earlier said that if the noise level exceeded the ambient noise standard by 10 decibels, a person could make a complaint to the authority and the latter was bound to take action against the violator.
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