Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], February 28 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitu Patwari on Friday challenged Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and the state BJP government over the disposal of Bhopal's Union Carbide factory toxic waste in Pithampur saying he would publicly apologise if cancer-causing elements not found inside a 10-kilometre radius of the disposal site.

The administration is all set to begin incineration of Union Carbide plant toxic waste at Ramky company located in Pithampur in Dhar district of the State. Four decades after a tragic 'Bhopal gas tragedy,' a total of 337 metric tons of toxic waste materials from the Union Carbide factory site were transported to Pithampur for its safe disposal.

In a post on X, Congress chief Patwari said, 'I once again challenge the Chief Minister and the entire system of the state BJP government. If there is no poison in the Union Carbide waste, then get the water tested within a 10-kilometer radius around the Ramky company. If cancer-causing elements are not found, I will publicly apologise.'

'The Mohan Yadav government should remember that the way public sentiments are being ignored under the guise of the court, the future generations will have to pay a serious price for it. I am repeating again that Indore has given many MLAs, MPs and mayors to BJP, but the kind of poison BJP is giving in return, the future generations will tell,' he added.

Additionally, the Congress leader also challenged the Chief Minister to get water samples tested.

'I once again challenge the Chief Minister, the two ministers from Indore in the state government, the collector, and the entire government body, come with me, get the water samples tested, the situation will become clear,' he said in the post.

Yesterday, the Dhar district administration said that all departments concerned are following the court's directions regarding disposal and are taking action as per protocol.

'Regarding the disposal of Bhopal's Union Carbide plant toxic waste at a factory located in Pithampur, all the concerned departments which include MPPCB (Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board), CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board), third parties etc are following the court's directions and taking action as per protocol,' said Pramod Gurjar, SDM (Sub Divisional Magistrate), Pithampur.

The Supreme Court on Febryary 27 clarified that it will not intervene in the matter concerning the disposal of waste at the Union Carbide Plant as the Madhya Pradesh High Court is already monitoring it.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih noted that the MP High Court has taken a serious view of the lethargic manner in which the state government has been handling waste disposal.

'The High Court is monitoring the matter. In that view, we do not find any reason to interfere in the said impugned order,' the Court said in its order.

The top court further clarified that any grievances in the matter can very well be raised before the MP High Court.

In December last year, the MP High Court ordered the swift disposal of the toxic waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal by shifting it to Pithampur. The apex court also observed that the High Court had formed a Task Force Committee consisting of expert organizations such as the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Considering that expert bodies of high repute are dealing with the issue, the Court refused to interfere in the matter. (ANI)