Jairam Ramesh worried over hazardous waste in Bhopal factory premises

BHOPAL: Expressing "great anguish" over hazardous waste lying in now defunct Union Carbide Factory even after 25 years of the Bhopal gas tragedy, environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday said the government is looking at safe ways of its disposal.
"It is a matter of great anguish that the waste was lying in the factory premises even after 25 years of the worst environmental disaster," Ramesh told reporters here.
He said three organisations have carried out studies on safe disposal of the waste.
"We are looking at it. No haste will be made for its disposal," he said, adding technical examination of reports will be carried out and NGOs will be consulted before its safe disposal.
On a study which suggests that the waste should be put in bunkers and then sealed, he said, "we are looking at all safe safe ways of disposing it."
On reports that the waste was contaminating the ground water, he said it was a "matter of concern".
While the disposal work will be carried out by the state government, it will be funded by the Centre, the minister said.
Jairam Ramesh will visit Pithampur tomorrow to examine the facilities for disposal of toxic waste of Union Carbide there.
Addressing a meeting of representatives of various organisations working for the Bhopal gas victims, the minister said that care should be taken to ensure that the disposal of toxic waste does not create problems there.
He said there was a need to resolve at the earliest all issues connected with the Bhopal Gas Disaster of 1984.
"Already over 25 years have passed since the disaster took place and more time cannot be allowed to pass without anything concrete getting done,".
Issues like the manner in which toxic waste should be disposed and the question of paying compensation to the victims should be decided urgently, he observed.