(a) whether the Government has received any proposal to remove the toxic chemical waste
after testing of Union Carbide in Bhopal ;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to prepare any scheme for removal of the said waste; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI B.K. HANDIQUE)
(a)to(d) : The High Court of Madhya Pradesh while hearing the Writ Petition No. 2802/2004 filed
by Shri Alok Pratap Singh vs. Union of India and others constituted a Task Force under the
chairpersonship of the Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals with experts from
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
and Central Pollution Control Board and Confederation of Indian Industry to monitor the
implementation of the Road map prepared by the Government of Madhya Pradesh for removal/disposal
of the toxic wastes lying in and around the Union Carbide India Limited(UCIL) plant at Bhopal.
The Principal Secretary, Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Relief and Rehabilitation Department, Government
of Madhya Pradesh is the coordinator of the Task Force and the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control
Board is the executive agency to impiement the project. As per the directions of the High Court
of Madhya Pradesh Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Relief and Rehabilitation Department have filed the
estimates regarding the removal/disposal of the toxic wastes lying in and around the UCIL plant
at Bhopal, approximately 346 MT of toxic wastes to be sent to Ankleshwar, Gujarat for
incineration at the incinerator and about 40 MT of Lime Sludge to be sent to the Secured Land
Fill constructed at Pithampur, near Indore, Madhya Pradesh. As per the directions of the High
Court the Government of India and the Government of Madhya Pradesh have to bear the expenditure
equally (subject of fixation of liability).