The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to urgently hear a plea challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court's order directing the incineration of toxic chemical waste from the Bhopal gas tragedy site at Pithampur, located in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. The apex court observed that substantial time has already been spent “fighting” to dispose of the hazardous waste and that the process is now being carried out under expert supervision.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma, while addressing an urgent mentioning by a Madhya Pradesh-based social activist, refused to intervene immediately in the March 27 order of the high court. The HC had directed that the state government dispose of the remaining chemical waste within 72 days — a deadline that expires on June 8.

The petitioner sought immediate listing of the matter, claiming that environmental and public health concerns were at stake. However, the Supreme Court bench remained firm, stating, “For how many years, we are fighting to get this waste removed but for all these years, these so-called NGOs and social activists... The high court is monitoring the matter, and under the supervision of experts, it (incineration) is being done.”

The toxic waste, a remnant of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster — one of the world’s worst industrial tragedies — has long been a matter of concern for environmental groups and local communities. The Union Carbide factory site, now defunct, has continued to pose serious ecological and health risks.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, in its order, had permitted the incineration to take place at the Pithampur facility, a move that has triggered criticism and legal resistance from activists concerned about the method of disposal and the safety of the surrounding areas.