The waste is to be disposed of in Ankleshwar (Gujarat). However, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board had refused to accept the toxic waste despite instructions from the Union government.
A press note had also been issued by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board. The state government has to provide with updated information on this tomorrow.
"The state government is waiting for orders from the court in this regard. The Gas Relief and Rehabilitation department has removed 47 tonnes of lime sludge from the site on June 27 and it has been disposed of at a hazardous waste disposal site in Pithampur (near Indore), which was developed by Hyderabad-based Ramky Enviro," a government source said.
The Court had ordered the state government to initiate talks with various companies that handle hazardous toxic waste and even NIDM (National Institute of Disaster Management) and to inform the court about the progress by April 21, 2007.
The state government demanded two months time to complete the process. "We will have to submit updates on the progress of the removal of the toxic waste in the Jabalpur High Court on July 3," the official further said.
Following the Jabalpur High Court orders, the state government had written to the Indian Army and NIDM but reportedly received "luke-warm responses."
After that the department wrote letters to transporters (whose names were advised by an intervener) for handling and transporting the toxic waste last month.
The state government then selected Ankleshwar-based Kataria Transport to handle, transport and dispose of the toxic waste.
Half of the solid waste (total 376 tonnes) will be land-filled and the rest will be incinerated of Bharuch Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (BEIL) in Ankleshwar Gujarat.
The land-filled waste will be concreted and will be tagged, while the rest of the toxic waste will be incinerated at 1,400 degree Celsius.
