BHOPAL : Leaders of five organisations of survivors of the Union Carbide gas disaster on Thursday condemned the deliberate neglect of the central and state governments towards the curative petition for additional compensation from American corporations. The organisations also launched a postcard campaign requesting the Supreme Court Registrar for an early hearing on the curative petition against Union Carbide and its owner Dow Chemical Company.
“It is now more than five years since the government filed the curative petition and there has been no hearing yet.” said Rashida Bee of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh who was honoured by the President of India with the “Women Achievers Award” last month. “It is indeed shameful that the government has not moved a single petition for urgent hearing on additional compensation. Meanwhile, victims of the disaster continue to die battling economic hardship caused due to ill health and paltry compensation.” she added.
Balkrishna Namdeo of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogi Sangharsh Morcha said that the government’s neglect towards the legal rights of the Bhopal victims to adequate compensation is evident in its carelessness regarding figures of injury and death. “Despite the central minister’s promise made over a year ago, the figures of injury and death in the curative petition remain downplayed to a fraction of the actual damage.” he said.
According to Satinath Sarangi of the Bhopal Group for Information & Action, the government’s submissions arguing for 1.2 billion dollars additional compensation before the Supreme Court run to 474 pages.
In contrast, Union Carbide and Dow Chemical’s arguments for holding the 470 million dollar settlement of 1989 to be full and final run to 3657 pages together. “Its not just the number of pages, the quality of arguments and the presentation of facts too need much improvement, but most of all hearings on the curative must begin.” he said.