Bhopal Disaster Cleanup Criticized as Insufficient by Local Activists

In a controversial move, the Indian government has begun a long-awaited cleanup operation at the site of the 1984 Bhopal disaster, where a gas leak resulted in one of the world's deadliest industrial accidents. A total of 337 tonnes of toxic waste has been removed from the site, but activists argue this is only a fraction of the estimated 1.1 million tonnes of hazardous material still contaminating the area.

Campaigners accuse the government of greenwashing, asserting that the removed waste was not a significant threat to the health and safety of the local population. Protests have erupted over plans to incinerate the waste at a facility that has previously failed environmental safety assessments, raising fears of further contamination and toxic exposure to nearby communities.

The Bhopal disaster claimed over 3,000 lives in the immediate aftermath, with at least 25,000 additional deaths attributed to long-term health effects, including cancer and other chronic diseases. Local groups continue to seek accountability from Union Carbide and its parent company, Dow Chemicals, which have denied liability based on a settlement from 1989.

Despite a recent court order urging a comprehensive cleanup, critics argue that the government's actions are merely a public relations strategy, with local officials emphasizing that proper measures for handling the remaining toxic waste and addressing ongoing contamination have yet to be implemented.

Rights groups call for further action and scrutiny regarding the lack of justice for victims, who received minimal compensation, and the failure to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster.