Groundwater contamination spreads to 20 new localities
BHOPAL: The contamination of groundwater from the toxic waste of the Union Carbide plant here has spread from 22 to 42 localities of Bhopal during the course of the past 33 years, according to a recent affidavit filed by the Bhopal Group for Information & Action (BGIA) before the Supreme Court.
The B GI A, which works for the victims of the Bhopal Gas tragedy, the world’s worst industrial disaster that claimed over 5,000 lives, had checked the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the groundwater of 20 new localities and found that they were beyond the permissible limit. The test was conducted in 2015 and 2016, and the report to the Supreme Court was submitted on November 22 this year.
The apex court had appointed B GI A as one members of the monitoring committee to monitor the state of water in the city.
BGIA convener Rachna Dhingra said, “The government is continuously ignoring the fact that toxic waste dumped in solar evaporation ponds from 1977 (when the Union Carbide plant started operation) to 1984 have started contaminated the soil and water of adjoining residential areas.”
Activists say the toxic waste had been wrapped in plastic to prevent contamination, but now, after so many years, the plastic has torn and the waste is seeping into the ground, contaminating the water. “The government is simply refusing to acknowledge this fact, but in reality residents of Bhopal are in danger of the toxic waste,” said Bal Krishna Namdeo, an activist.
The BGIA has requested the SC to ensure supply of only treated water to 20 plus localities to avoid any health hazards. The court has asked authorities to take samples of the groundwater in the presence of the monitoring committee or its authorised representative(s) from the 20-plus additional communities identified by the applicant (BRIA).
The concerned authority, which is the project manager, JNNURM (water distribution) project, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, will carry out laboratory tests of the samples taken from a government-approved laboratory approved by the monitoring committee and submit its report. The monitoring committee will offer its suggestions before the court on January 10, 2018.
NO FUNDS FOR PENSION
The 1,800 widow and victims of are fighting to get their pension of ₹1,000 per month, which was stopped a year ago, by the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation.
“Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chou han had announced in 2010 that the pension would continue for life but in April 2016, the dispersal of pension was stopped. When asked, authorities said it happened due to fund crunch. Now, we are facing difficulty in even meeting both ends,” said Shahida Bi, a victim.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation minister Vi sh was Sarang said, “The matter of spread of hazardous toxic through soil and underground water is sub jud ice, so I can’ t comment. But we are trying our best to improve the condition of gas victims.”