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Indian PM
Concedes First Demand, Bhopal Survivors Happy With Response
Bhopal, May 29 (Pervez Bari): Three organizations of the survivors of
the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster leading a protracted battle for
rehabilitation and justice today expressed satisfaction at the
response of the Indian Prime Minister.
In a statement issued by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s office,
the first of their demands - setting up of a commission to carry out
medical, economic, social and environmental rehabilitation of the
Bhopal gas victims - was readily agreed to.
According to news reports reaching here today morning Prithviraj
Chauhan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister Office, (PMO),
visited the pavement spot at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi where the
Bhopal survivors have been protesting for last two months and read out
a two page statement authorized by the Prime Minister.
“The central government is "in principle" agreement with this demand,”
said the statement read out by Chauhan. While the central government
will work on setting up a commission, “the government of Madhya
Pradesh is also being asked to prepare a detailed action for
rehabilitation schemes of the Bhopal gas victims and the funds
required”, the statement said.
The statement added that on the demand of provision of clean drinking
water in 14 localities near the former Union Carbide plant in Bhopal,
a project under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission has been
sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.141.8 million.
The PMO’s statement said that the matter of legal action against Dow
Chemicals on environment and health of the surviving victims is still
pending before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
“The department of chemicals and petrochemicals has already filed an
application requesting the court to direct Dow Chemicals and
associated companies to deposit Rs.100 crore (Rs.1 billion) as an
advance for environmental remediation,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, an activist Satinath Sarangi of Bhopal Group for
Information and Action said: “Union Carbide and its former chairperson
Warren Anderson, both of whom face charges of culpable homicide and
grievous assault, are absconding from Indian courts since 1992. No
fresh attempts have been made by the government to enforce their
appearance in court.
“Then the Union Commerce Ministry approved collaboration between
Reliance Industries and Dow for the transfer of Union Carbide-owned
and patented technology, which is not legal and should be revoked.
To these demands the Prime Minister’s office has assured us that a
meeting will be held June 3 and a conclusion on these demands will be
made,” Sarangi added.
The organizations: Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh,
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha and Bhopal Group for
Information and Action who had earlier led a 37-day 800 kilometer long
"Padyatra" (foot-march) have decided to continue with their protest as
the Prime Minister is yet to respond to most of the demands concerning
legal action against Union Carbide and its current owner Dow Chemical
Company, USA.
Chauhan assured the protestors that the PMO is active in finalizing an
official response to demands of extradition of absconding Union
Carbide’s representative, cancellation of registration of Dursban and
two other pesticides of Dow Chemical and revoking the permission given
to Reliance Industries for purchase of Union Carbide’s UNIPOL
technology.
The Bhopal protestors thanked the Prime Minister for the “principled
agreement” on the first demand of the 2008 Bhopal-New Delhi "Padyatra"
that of setting up of an Empowered Commission on Bhopal. They will be
sending a letter to the Prime Minister with the final draft of the
Commission on Bhopal Bill to be passed in the Monsoon session of the
Parliament. The proposed Commission will have survivors’
representatives and will function at least for the next 30 years.
The Bhopal organizations are also happy that the Prime Minister has
asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to continue medical
research by the Indian Council of Medical Research, (ICMR). The Prime
Minister’s promise that the communities with contaminated ground water
will receive piped water by the end of 2008 remains to convince the
Bhopal organizations because the money for this JNURM project was
sanctioned in April 2006 and only 30 per cent of the work has been
done so far.
The Bhopal organizations are particularly happy that the Prime
Minister has affirmed his government’s support on the issue of Dow
Chemical’s liabilities for the toxic waste and ground water
contamination in and around Union Carbide’s abandoned factory. They
hope that the government will summon the political will to take
appropriate legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical for
their crimes in India.
It may be recalled here that the Bhopal gas leak tragedy, probably the
world’s worst industrial disaster, took place on the intervening night
of December 2-3 in 1984. Then over 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate,
(MIC), gas leaked from Union Carbide pesticide plant killing at least
3,800 people and maiming for life many more in Bhopal.
Bhopal organizations extended their thanks to the Members of
Parliament D. Raja of CPI, Abony Roy of RSP, former MP and senior
columnist Kuldip Nayyar, Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan,
Magasaysay awardee Arvind Khejriwal and all their national and
International supporters for their unstinted support to the Bhopal
Struggle. (pervezbari@eth.net)
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