HC Orders Safe Disposal of Union Carbide Toxic Ash Away from Populated Areas
850 Tons of Toxic Ash Must Be Destroyed Far from Human Habitations: High Court
On July 31, the High Court took a firm stance regarding the disposal of 850 tons of toxic ash left over after burning Union Carbide's hazardous waste. The court observed that disposing of this ash near human settlements would be dangerous and instructed the government to collaborate with scientists to identify a location far away from any populated areas.
The court has given the state government until August 12 to prepare and submit a detailed disposal plan. According to the government, the ash is a byproduct of incinerating 337 metric tons of toxic waste. The initial plan was to dispose of the ash in the same area where it was generated.
However, petitioner’s lawyer Ritwik Dixit informed the court that the ash contains mercury, making it extremely hazardous to human health and the environment.