leaders of five organisations of the survivors of the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal, on Saturday presented their list of demands on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the disaster. They expressed hope that the soon to be elected Government in the State as well as Governments of USA and India would take action to end the disaster before it enters the fourth decade.
Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh said that the US Government must acknowledge and express regret for financing, through its EXIM Bank, the construction of the hazardously designed plant that caused the world’s worst industrial disaster.
She said that the US Government must contribute to a closure of the disaster by ensuring that Union Carbide Corporation and its officials cease to abscond from Indian courts, provide additional compensation and clean up toxic contamination in Bhopal.
Balkrishna Namdeo, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha demanded that Dow Chemical must set aside sufficient funds for clean up of contaminated soil and ground water in and around the abandoned Union Carbide factory and for health monitoring of the affected population.
“Union Carbide must cease to abscond from justice and answer charges of manslaughter and grievous assault in the criminal case pending before the Bhopal District Court,” he added. Nawab Khan of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha demanded that the Government of India make corrections in the figures of deaths and injuries caused by the disaster in the curative petition before the Supreme Court of India for additional compensation from Dow Chemical and Union Carbide.
He also called upon the Central Government to set up an Empowered Commission on Bhopal with adequate funds, authority and participation of survivors’ representatives for medical, social, economic and environmental rehabilitation in Bhopal. “A new Government will be formed in the State two weeks from now. Our deepest wish is that this Government makes a new beginning to end the ongoing disasters in Bhopal. We are calling for a closure before the disasters enter the fourth decade.” said Safreen Khan from Children Against Dow Carbide.