It was earlier to be burnt at a DRDO facility in Nagpur
After losing battle to environmentalists against incineration of toxic waste from Union Carbide factory in Bhopal at Nagpur, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has now turned its attention to Navi Mumbai. It has written to Mumbai Waste Management Limited, a waste management company, to incinerate the waste lying in the factory since past 26 years there.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) authorities have opposed the move. The toxic waste includes halogenated compounds, chlorinated and other hazardous chemicals. “CPCB has neither taken our opinion nor kept us in the loop while taking the decision. We strongly oppose incineration of toxic waste anywhere in Maharashtra,” says a senior MPCB official who did not wish to be named.
Earlier, the Jabalpur bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court had on July 12 last year ordered the toxic waste be incinerated at facility maintained by Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) near Nagpur. The decision was strongly opposed by environmentalists, social organisations and politicians. Vidarbha Paryavaran Kriti Samiti, Vidarbha Industries Association and MLA Devendra Fadanavis filed public interest petition (PIL) against the decision before the Nagpur bench of the Mumbai High Court. The bench then asked MPCB and the state government to intervene in the case before the Jabalpur bench. The Nagpur bench, on December 17, ordered a stay on the transfer of the toxic waste to the DRDO facility.
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