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UNION OF INDIA v. ALOK PRATAP SINGH & ORS.

Country/Territory
India
Type of court
National - higher court
Date
Apr 4, 2012
Source
UNEP, InforMEA
Court name
Supreme Court of India
Judge
Jyoti Mukhopadhaya, S.
Singhvi, G.S.
Language
English
Subject
Waste & hazardous substances, Legal questions
Keyword
Solid waste Hazardous waste Food waste Organic waste Waste disposal Hazardous substances Disasters Waste domestic sources Waste non-domestic sources Liability/compensation
Abstract
The Supreme court has ordered the disposal of the toxic waste lying in the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal at the Pithampur waste treatment storage and disposal facility (TSDF) in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district. The order passed on April 4, 2012 directed the authorities to first carry out trial runs and then incinerate the waste at the earliest. The order comes close on the heels of a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that directed the Central government to appear in person through the secretary of environment and forests to explain what is to be done with the 350 tonnes of toxic waste that has been lying at the Union Carbide plant since 1984 when the Bhopal gas leak disaster occurred. The Court directed the authorities concerned—the Madhya Pradesh government and its pollution control board and the Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB)—to take all the necessary steps to ensure effective implementation of the decision taken in the meeting held on February 22, 2012 without any delay. The inter-ministerial meeting was called by MoEF to decide on disposing of Bhopal's toxic waste. The Supreme Court order further states that by July this year the authorities should have carried out trial disposal of the waste and submit a report to the high court. “After considering the report, the high court may issue appropriate directions in the matter of disposal of the waste,” says the apex court order.
Full text
COU-159190.pdf