This draft research report by the People’s Science Institute (PSI), Dehradun deals with groundwater contamination near the Union Carbide plant at Bhopal. The main objective of PSI's monitoring exercise was to assess the degree of groundwater contamination, if any, in the vicinity of the erstwhile UCIL plant particularly in the context of the huge quantum of the ill-contained toxic wastes lying unheeded inside.
The monitoring exercise was restricted to the colonies adjoining the UCIL plant. Particularly in areas from where complaints about pungent water in handpumps had been received. A survey of the available literature relating to the studies conducted beforehand on the abandoned factory site brought out the fact that during 1967-1977 the effluents were dumped inside a large pit near the eastern boundary wall of the plant.
As per the study the situation is grave and poses threats of magnanimous proportions to the health and wellbeing of the people residing in the area. In order to resolve the crisis, it is absolutely imperative to contain the toxic chemicals lying inside the UCIL plant premises. Since, it is not known exactly when this phenomenon of leaching of toxic chemicals from sources inside the abandoned plant started, it is necessary to know the extent to which the contamination has spread over time. It should also be useful, if possible, to predict the rapidity with which the toxic chemicals are proliferating in the aquifer of the region. This would help prepare a strategy to counter the situation in future target areas that are likely to be contaminated in subsequent times.
The recommendations that emerge out of this study are -