Clearing encroachments, the next big challenge post UCC clean up

UPHILL TASK | 30% to 40% land on UCC site encroached upon by slum dwellers

- Our Staff Reporter

Post the toxic waste clean up at the defunct Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) plant, the state government faces another herculean task - clearing encroachments from the UCC site.

A large portion of land allocated to Union Carbide has been encroached upon by slum dwellers and now two colonies have come up on it.

The Union Carbide was allotted a total of 87 acres for its plant. Of this, 55 acres comprised the covered campus where the plant was constructed. The remaining 32 acres outside the covered campus comprised three Solar Evaporation Ponds (SEPs) of the plant. These SEPs, which are referred to by locals as 'zehreela talab' (toxic ponds), were used by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) to store wastewater containing high concentrations of inorganic chemicals, especially chlorides.