The apex court deferred the implementation of its April 4 order in the wake of various issues raised by Madhya Pradesh government and some NGOs about the "possible fall-out of the trial run" for the disposal of UCIL wastes and the fact that the "Group of Minister (GoM) considering the issue is yet to take a final decision".
"We do not want that a single life should be affected," a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhayay said while stressing that "waste disposal has to be carried out without harming any individual".
The bench indicated if the GoM comes out with a decision, preferably within two weeks, the matter could be heard during the vacation and a request could be made to the Chief Justice of India for constituting a bench to hear it.
The court noted that despite the suffering of the people for the last 28 years, the Centre and the state government have failed to arrive at the modalities for disposal of the toxic wastes lying at the erstwhile factory of UCIL.
It also made clear that though there was a proposal for disposal and incineration of wastes at Pithampur facility, it would not like that any harmful effect arises in a new place as the nearest village was only half a km away from the site.
