The NGOs working for the cause of the gas victims have expressed serious reservations about the recommendations of the Group of Ministers on various issues linked with Bhopal gas tragedy that include enhanced compensation to the gas victims and the families of those killed in the worst industrial catastrophe that hit Bhopal in December 1984.
The MP government had submitted for the Planning Commission’s approval a Rs 982-crore action plan for the victims. It is learnt that a plan of action for Rs 582 crores has been approved and the state government has been given the assurance that a corpus of fund totalling Rs 500 crores would be put up before the Union finance minister for clearance.
Regarding remediation and removal of toxic waste lying at the now abandoned Union Carbide plant, state minister for gas tragedy relief and rehabilitation Babulal Gaur, who attended the GoM, said this work would be done by the state government with the help of government of India. Further inquiries on this issue revealed that the state government would have to resolve a basic contradiction when it comes to demonstrating adequate seriousness when it comes to cleaning up the site that has remained under the occupation of the state gas tragedy relief and rehabilitation department long. This, especially at a time when cleaning up has becoming a priority of government of India. When contacted, an official source said there is no blueprint for clean-up or for decommissioning the plant despite the fact that a study had been conducted for this by Indian Institute of Chemical Technology and National Geophysical Research Institute.
The state government’s contention was exposed by the report of the Centre for Science and Environment which had contradicted the government’s theory of “toxicity-free” site.
The NGOs working for the victims here were unanimous in pointing out that there was corruption and massive irregularity in classifying victims under various categories. The NGOs have cautioned that it would not be the correct step if additional compensation is given to all those who have already received compensation without a fresh case by case assessment of injuries and death cases. Mr Abdul Jabbar of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan said at a press conference here that death compensation was given for only about 5,300 death claims and the compensation for permanent injury was given to over 30, 000 gas victims. Everyone knows that the registered deaths are over 22,150, he said.