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Bhopal: toxic legacy

Bhopal gas disaster: the tragedy continues

For its survivors, the Bhopal gas tragedy is still an unfolding event. The human casualty of the gas leak is mounting each year as we observe its 28th anniversary. In the past one year, the tragedy remained in news for most of the time—mostly because of the court case over disposal of the toxic waste that remains in the Union Carbide factory. Down To Earth reported these developments in the courts and outside

Bhopal : A Toxic Legacy

The scale of toxins spread cannot be attributed to the gas leak alone. It betrays mismanagement of chemicals in India. About 32,000 chemicals are produced in the country; the composition of only 3,000 is known and the long-term effects of fewer on health and the environment. With the law providing no deterrence and an unaccountable corporate, a Bhopal is waiting to happen at the turn of every street Photographs by: Sayantan Bera

Bhopal : A Toxic Legacy

The Madhya Pradesh government wants to open the Union Carbide plant to the public. The principal secretary of the state claims this will dispel the “myth” about toxins left at the site. A recent study by Centre for Science and Environment found that the profile of chemicals found within the factory premises matches that of chemicals found in adjacent localities. Moderately persistent chemicals called Carbamates were also found in the city’s groundwater. Clearly, the factory is polluting the environment even 25 years after the plant was shut down

Bhopal : A Toxic Legacy

Ailments of the eyes and lungs are common among the residents of old Bhopal who visit government hospitals Photographs by: Sayantan Bera

Bhopal : A Toxic Legacy

Manoj Panthi once fell unconscious inside a factory tank while cleaning it. “The mask did not help,” said Panthi. He was hired by contractors for Rs 40 a day to scrap chemicals off tanks that once contained methyl isocyanate and to mix lime with the chemicals and stack the solid waste in sacks. “We were about 15 people. Our eyes would itch. Two of my friends passed away within a year of working there.” Photographs by: Sayantan Bera

Bhopal : A Toxic Legacy

Eight years ago Dinesh Panthi’s legs started failing him. He has since been taking painkillers and is unable to work. He was compensated for the death of his father and sister but not for himself. Of the settlement money Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) paid, Rs 1,300 crore is still lying with the Central government. Panthi received one lakh rupees for the loss of two relatives when the compensation in case of each death was fixed at one lakh rupees Photographs by: Sayantan Bera

Bhopal : A Toxic Legacy

Nav Jeevan colony in old Bhopal receives municipal water once in every two days. In 1994, the Supreme Court monitoring committee on hazardous waste reported groundwater contamination near the factory. The court ordered clean water be supplied to the residents. It was only after two marches – from Bhopal to Delhi in 2006 and 2008 – by residents that a pipeline was laid. But the supply is erratic, so people continue to depend on groundwater Photographs by: Sayantan Bera

Bhopal : A Toxic Legacy

350 tonnes of toxic waste is still lying inside the factory. The broken roof of the shed allows rain to wash away the chemicals that seep underground. Since 2005, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued various directions for the removal of the waste. It had asked for the incinerable waste to be sent to a private facility in Gujarat. The facility refused the waste following the furore raised by activists. Groundwater continues to test positive for pesticides in and around the factory Photographs by: Sayantan Bera

Bhopal : A Toxic Legacy

The solar evaporation pond behind the UCIL plant was used to dump the factory’s chemical waste. Its plastic lining is torn and the waste is piled on the sides. In 2007, the state government studied the health of 24-year-olds near the pond. It found high morbidity among them compared to those living elsewhere in Bhopal. The study attributed the high incidence to poor water quality and socio-economic standards Photographs by: Sayantan Bera

Bhopal : A Toxic Legacy

An afternoon in Jai Prakash Nagar. People living around the UCIL plant suffer from chronic ailments and abnormalities. Residents claim children can’t run 100 metres without falling short of breath. No one knows whether these are the fallouts of the gas leak or the continued exposure to toxins. A long-term epidemiological research by Indian Council of Medical Research was terminated in 1994 and the Madhya Pradesh study is poor and disputed Photographs by: Surya Sen
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