The abandoned Union Carbide factory premises would be soon turned into a Bhopal gas tragedy memorial on the lines of Hiroshima Peace Memorial. Fulfilling the long-pending demand of the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to build the memorial with an investment of Rs180 crore.
Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vishwas Sarang, who visited the abandoned premises on Sunday, said that the memorial would serve as a reminder and warning to future generations so that Bhopal-like tragedy did not recur.
Bhopal gas tragedy of December 2/3, 1984 had killed over 15,000 people instantly and maimed lakhs for life. Many deaths continued years after the incident where methyl iso-cyanate gas escaped from the Union Carbide factory at midnight and killed people in sleep.
The Minister said that the abandoned and decaying factory structure would be preserved and the memorial would be designed around it.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial or the Genbaku Dome is the only surviving structure of the Hiroshima bombing and the other aspects of the peace memorial park have been designed around it.
However, saying that it is yet to be finalised, the Minister refrained from giving any further details on the design and concept of the proposed memorial. The work on the memorial is expected to commence within two to three months, he added.
Principal Secretary of the gas tragedy and rehab department Gauri Singh also accompanied the Minister during the visit.
Sarang said that 10 tonnes of the toxic waste on the Union Carbide premises was successfully disposed of by the Ramkey Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) at Pithampur.
Request would be made to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for early disposal of the remaining waste. Sarang said discussions were held with the board chairman recently in this regard.
The Minister also said that recently a study was conducted on the necessities of social, economic and health-related rehabilitation of the survivors and soon a work plan would be chalked out.
Meanwhile, gas tragedy survivors lauded the announcement of the Government regarding construction of a memorial at the Union Carbide factory site. Convener of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan (BGPMUS) Abdul Jabbar expressed gratitude to Sarang and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the move.
The organisation urged the State Government to prevail upon the Central Government so that the curative petition on enhanced compensation to the survivors is disposed early in Supreme Court.