25 years on, govt continues to gas Bhopal victims

  • 30/05/2008

  • Economic Times (New Delhi)

THE GOVERNMENT has finally lent an ear to the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy. But coming after 25 years it's certainly a case of too little too late. The government has accepted "in principle' their demand to set up a commission to carry out medical, economic, social and environmental rehabilitation of the victims. However, dissatisfaction persists as demands of legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemicals are yet to be met. Reading out the prime minister's statement, minister of state (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan said central government is "in principle' in agreement on the demand for a specially empowered committee and 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 Company, and associated companies, to deposit Rs 100 crore as advance for environmental remediation. The central government will take further action as per the decision of the court,' Mr Chavan said Three organisations