Bhopal gas tragedy: Supreme Court declines to intervene, says critics of toxic waste disposal are following a ‘not-in-my-backyard’ approach

Supreme Court Declines Intervention in Bhopal Gas Tragedy Waste Disposal, Sparks Outrage Among Survivors

In a decision that has reignited pain for survivors, the Supreme Court today refused to intervene in the contentious disposal of toxic waste from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, observing that opponents to its disposal in their areas were following a "not-in-my-backyard" approach. The ruling comes nearly four decades after the world's worst industrial disaster that killed over 15,000 people and continues to affect generations.  

The court was hearing petitions regarding the disposal of 337 metric tonnes of hazardous waste still lying at the abandoned Union Carbide plant. While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the bench remarked, "Everyone wants the waste to be disposed of, but nobody wants it done near their vicinity."  

"This is not about NIMBYism, this is about justice," reacted Rashida Bi, a survivor and activist with the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh. "For 39 years we've been breathing poison, drinking poisoned water, and now they want to burn more poison in our backyard? When will our suffering end?"  

The toxic waste has been at the center of a two-decade-long dispute, with successive governments failing to implement a safe disposal plan. Proposed solutions – including incineration at facilities in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and other states – have faced vehement opposition from local communities fearing health hazards.  

Environmental scientist Dr. Sapna Johnson warned, "The waste contains persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals. Incineration could release dioxins – among the most toxic substances known – into the air. This needs specialized handling, not political expediency."  

The court's decision has particularly stung survivors who saw this as their last hope for resolution. "First they gave us paltry compensation, then neglected our medical needs, and now they can't even clean up their mess properly," said 58-year-old Abdul Jabbar, who lost six family members in the tragedy. "We are not someone's backyard – we are human beings."  

As the legal battle continues, the toxic legacy of that December night in 1984 remains unresolved, with the court suggesting the Madhya Pradesh government explore alternative disposal methods. For Bhopal's survivors, the wait for closure continues, their plight a stark reminder of how industrial disasters cast long shadows.