The moot question is what went wrong with the state government’s approach that residents of this town had to take to streets in the wake of shifting of the 337 tonne of toxic chemical or it was really a result of “fake news”
Bhopal: Situation in Pithampur industrial town, about 220 km west of Bhopal, in Dhar district, seems to be under control now with chief minister, Madhya Pradesh Dr Mohan Yadav’s intervention in the local residents’ protest to assure them that nothing would be allowed to harm them.
The moot question is what went wrong with the state government’s approach that residents of this town had to take to streets in the wake of shifting of the 337 tonne of toxic chemical or it was really a result of “fake news” allegedly published by a section of media as has been alleged by none else than the state government on oath in the high court.
The high court has granted further six weeks time to the state government during which the state government has to decide how to dispose of the toxic substance. It remains to be seen how the state government goes ahead- Will incineration of the toxic chemical take place at Pithampur itself after convincing the local people that it would not harm them or the government will choose some other site for the same.
Two agitators’ immolation bid during the protest only worsened the situation and suddenly the state government was seen in a defensive mode and it had to announce postponing of incineration of the toxic waste at the plant- Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility, a division of Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd. (Hyderabad).
In fact, the government failed to understand mood of people in Pithampur when it carried on the exercise to shift the hazardous waste, as much as 337 tonne toxic chemical waste, from the erstwhile Union Carbide factory in Bhopal.
There were hardly any deliberations with local people and public representatives before the chemical waste which had been lying on the Union Carbide factory premises for the past four decades, was shifted to the Pithampur plant on Wednesday night.
Now, when proposed incineration of the toxic chemical has been put on hold with chief minister, Madhya Pradesh Dr Mohan Yadav’s initiative there are several questions that need to be answered by the state government.
First, did the state government have no idea that there would be protest or massive protest against the proposed incineration of the chemical waste in Pithampur?
Second, if the government had the idea, then which were the measures undertaken to take into confidence the local residents as well as the local public representatives including those from the ruling party?
Third, why there was no media briefing about the government’s plan to tell people how the incineration would take place and that it would cause no harm to their health as the government is claiming now?
Fourth, was the role of state as well as local authorities well defined and discussed in details on paper and during meetings?
Fifth, was there any high-level meeting in the secretariat to take into account every aspect of the shifting and incineration plan and possible implications of the same?
Sixth, did the government not seek the feedback of even the local ruling party leaders including public representatives ahead of shifting of the toxic chemicals to Pithampur.
In its defence, the state government said it shifted the toxic chemical in compliance with the High Court order dated December 3, 2024 to shift the chemical within four weeks. In a way, the government sought to take refuge in the high court order to avoid being blamed for the chaotic situation in Pithampur. But it failed to share with people what it had done in almost four weeks’ time since the HC order to plan the shifting and decide on how to control the situation in case of any agitation.
