Unbelievable: Govt of India sells out
New Delhi - On Thursday 24 June, while Bhopal Survivors rallied in the streets of Delhi against the proposal by the Group of Minister on Bhopal, the Union Cabinet approved the measures. The $280 million (Rs 1265.56 crore) plan does little to bring real justice or help to the thousands still suffering in Bhopal.
Here are the ways in which this plan betrays Bhopalis:
- The government announced new compensation for victims. It turns out that this compensation will reach less than 10% of victimes. They will dole out Rs. 7 billion among 46,000 people, leaving 525,000 people with nothing.
- Survivors have demanded that Dow Chemical pay for proper clean up of the toxic waste it's subsidiary left behind. Under this plan, clean up will be to non-existent indian standards by shoddy scientific organisations like NEERI. Bhopalis fear that a hasty clean up not protect them and will put another community, where they will bring the waste, in danger.
- Dow Chemical bought Union Carbide and it's liability in Bhopal. Yet, the Indian government has allowed Dow to continue operating in India with no consequence. The cabinet has decided today that Dow's liability will be left to the court to decide. The Government will do nothing.
- While the proposal does include a new extradition request for Warren Anderson, Union Carbide will not be pursued by the Government, even though it too has been charged with culpible homicide.
Read some news coverage of the announcement:
AFP: India unveils new 280-mln-dollar Bhopal disaster response
NY Times: In India, BP Response Feeds Outrage Over Bhopal
Here are more specifics on how the Cabinet is betraying Bhopalis:
