Despite red markings on handpumps to indicate that the water is too contaminated to be used, the community in Bhopal has no option but to use this water.
Present Status
SUPREME COURT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON HAZARDOUS WASTES
Report of visit to Bhopal (M.P.) on 7th April, 2004
"...5) The (water) position in the various areas surrounding the
defunct plant of Union Carbide (now taken over by Dow Chemicals) is
as follows:
a) The Committee has been able to ascertain that a total of 13
communities are affected by the problem of their water supplies
being contaminated by hazardous wastes from Union Carbide plant
(scene of the 1984 industrial disaster).
These include the following: 1) Atal-Ayub Nagar; 2) New Arif
Nagar; 3) Annu Nagar; 4)Nawab Colony; 5) Shri Ram Nagar; 6) Sundar
Nagar; 7) Prem Nagar; 8) Blue Moon Colony; 9) Timber Market; 10)
Chandbadi; 11) Garib Nagar; 12) Shiv Nagar and 13)Preet Nagar.
b) These communities (many of whom comprise gas victims) live in
areas surrounding the Union Carbide/Dow Chemical plant.
c)
The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) at Bhopal
collected water samples around UCIL premises (within 2.0 km radius
of factory premises) from the following locations in April 2003:
Atal Ayub Nagar, New Arif Nagar, Arif Nagar, Annu Nagar, Kanchi
Cholla, Near Dussera Maidan, Gareeb Nagar, Kanchi Chola Gali No.3,
Near Ujjain Cabin, Blue Moon Colony, Preet Nagar, Solar Evaporation
Pond and Rajeev Nagar.
d) The analysis of these samples reveals that the parameters
viz. colour, turbidity and chlorides of some samples exceed the
desirable limits of BIS-10500 whereas parameters viz. total
hardness, total alkalinity, D.S. and fluorides exceed the said
limits in most of the samples. Pesticides like lindane,
Endosulfan-I, II, aldrin and B-BHC were detected in some of the
samples.
e) In July 2003 the ground water samples were collected from the
same locations. The analysis of these samples reveals that the
parameters viz. colour, turbidity and chlorides of some samples
exceeds the desirable limits of BIS-10500 whereas parameters viz.
total hardness, total alkalinity and D.S. exceed the said limits in
most of the samples. Pesticides like lindane, methoxychlor,
Endosulfan-II, heptachlor, aldrin and dieldrin were detected in
some of the samples.
f) In Oct. 2003, the ground water samples around UCIL premises
were collected from almost the same locations. The analysis of
these samples reveals that the parameters viz. colour and chlorides
of some samples exceed the desirable limits of BIS-10500 whereas
parameters viz. total hardness, total alkalinity and D.S. exceed
the said limits in most of the samples. Pesticides like lindane,
Endosulfan I-II, heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, BHC, endrin and 4.4
DDT were detected in some of the samples. Halogenated hydrocarbon
viz. 1,2,3, TCB is detected in some of the groundwater samples.
g) In Jan. 2004, the ground water samples were collected around
UCIL premises and from almost the same locations. The analysis of
these samples reveals that the parameters viz chlorides and
fluoride of some samples exceeds the desirable limits of BIS-10500
whereas parameters viz. turbidity, total hardness, total alkalinity
and D.S. exceed the said limits in most of the samples."
Exposure to the gas leak, the contaminants on site and the
contaminated groundwater have led to serious health problems
amongst the Bhopal community. Survivors suffer from lung fibrosis,
impaired vision, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, breathlessness,
loss of appetite, severe body pains, painful and irregular
menstrual cycles, recurrent fever, persistent cough, neurological
disorders, fatigue, weakness, anxiety and depression. Tens of
thousands of children born after the disaster suffer from growth
problems and far too many teenage women suffer from menstrual
disorders. In the years following the disaster, the stillbirth rate
was thrice as high, perinatal mortality was twice as high and
neonatal mortality was one and a half times more than comparative
national figures. Chromosomal aberrations in the exposed population
indicate a strong likelihood of congenital malformations in the
generations to come.
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