GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Environment and Forests

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2472
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/04/2010
Pollution in Bhopal around tragedy site

2472. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPBI has discovered high levels of chemicals in underground water and soil, around the Bhopal Gas tragedy site: and

(b) if so, the steps proposed to be taken to eliminate this contamination, leading to increased pollution and risk to the lives of people living in the area?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a)&(b) The Central Pollution Control Board ICPCB) has carried out a study to assess the status of ground water quality and soil characteristics around Bhopal gas accident site in the surroundings of Union Carbide of India Ltd. (UCIL), Bhopal. The CPCB study confirms presence of heavy metals, pesticides and some of the volatile organic compounds in the soil samples and. the groundwater. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has prepared an action plan which is under implementation. A Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility has been established at Peethampur in Madhya Pradesh for the proper dispos"a1 of hazardous waste of UCIL.