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Bhopal: GoM
to file curative petition, seek Anderson’s extradition
The Group of Ministers (GoM) on
Bhopal gas tragedy is understood to have on Sunday decided to recommend filing
of a curative petition in the Supreme Court to fix criminal liability, seek
extradition of former Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson and clean up the
complex by burying the toxic waste.
Official sources said the curative petition will focus on criminal liability
of the accused and seek more stringent charges as the apex court had diluted
the IPC section under culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the
accused to negligence on their part.
Headed by Home Minister P. Chidambaram, the Group of Ministers, which met for
the third consecutive day, also favoured approaching the United States to seek
extradition of the former Union Carbide chief to face trial in India in the
Bhopal gas disaster case. The tragedy, which occurred in the intervening night
of December 2-3, 1984, has left over 15,000 people dead and thousands maimed.
The GoM is also likely to recommend the burying of contaminated soil at the
site itself in a scientific manner and the Madhya Pradesh government will
carry out the task for which the Central government will provide financial and
technical assistance, the sources said.
Mr. Chidambaram told reporters after the meeting that the GoM has covered all
the subjects that were identified and is expected to submit its report to the
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday.
“The minutes are being drawn up. Tomorrow, the GoM will meet again to finalise
the minutes - finalise the recommendations and conclusions. I expect to send
the report to the Prime Minister tomorrow afternoon,” he said.
Mr. Chidambaram said the fourth and final session of the GoM discussed
remediation and environmental issues.
“Remediation of contaminated soil, contaminated water, the toxic waste that
are at the site and the corroded plant, the corroded steel and other
material,” he said.
The sources said the GoM extensively discussed the issue of providing
additional compensation to the victims as the relief given so far was
inadequate.
The compensation should be based on health classification like injuries
suffered and the after effects of exposure to poisonous chemicals including
cancer, long term diseases, disability and death of next of kin.
Govt should provide best treatment to victims: MPHRC
The Madhya Pradesh government should provide treatment to victims of the
Bhopal gas tragedy in the best medical institutes, the state human rights
commission has said.
“Top priority should be given to the treatment of gas affected persons.
Whenever needed, they should be referred to the best medical institutions in
the country,” MPHRC Chairman Justice (Retired) D M Dharmadhikari said here
yesterday while addressing a training programme of pubic prosecutors.
Referring to the punishment awarded in the Bhopal gas leak case, Dharmadhikari
said even after the disaster of such a magnitude, no harsh laws to deal with
such cases were enacted.
He called upon the prosecutors to ensure that justice is done to the Bhopal
gas victims.
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