By TCN News,
Bhopal: Pointing out towards a possibility of a comprehensive scientific assessment of the contamination around the Union Carbide factory here by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Bhopal Gas tragedy survivors on Tuesday demanded the Centre to put in a formal application for the same.
“Our supporters in the US had written to the officials at the UNEP for carrying out a scientific assessment on the depth and spread of different contaminants in and around the abandoned factory premises. In their response, UNEP officials mentioned that they would require a formal request from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India in order to consider the request,” leaders of five organisations representing the survivors of the December 1984 Union Carbide Bhopal Gas disaster told a press conference here.
It is estimated that poisonous gas leak left over 3,000 people dead in the intervening night of December 2-3 in 1984 and more than 20,000 in the weeks after while there were over half a million who suffered permanent injuries, making the Bhopal 1984 Union Carbide factory poisonous gas leak as the deadliest industrial catastrophe in the world.
These leaders met Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change during his recent visit here for discussions on the issue.
The organisations stated that as per the 2012 report of the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, soil and ground water of 22 communities within 3.5 kms of the factory were contaminated by the recklessly dumped hazardous waste of Union Carbide. “Recent tests indicate that the contamination has now spread beyond these 22 communities,” the leaders claimed.
The organisations said that UNEP with its long experience of environmental assessment and its independent status is the ideal organization to carry out the scientific assessment in Bhopal.
They said that according to the “polluter pays” principle, Union Carbide, USA – that designed the waste management system in Bhopal – is legally liable for environmental remediation of the contaminated area. Dow Chemical that took over Union Carbide USA, in 2001 is currently liable for the clean-up based on the principle of successor liability. “The Government of India has sought Rs 350 crores from Dow Chemical as advance for clean-up in the on-going litigation in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. (But) The actual amount of liability and the most appropriate strategy for remediation can be ascertained through the comprehensive scientific assessment,” the leaders reminded.
According to the organisations, Javadekar has promised a response in this matter within 15 days. These five organisations are: Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan (BGPMUS); Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh; Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha; Bhopal Group for Information and Action and Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha.