Govt set to clear Rs 983 crore for Bhopal victims

TNN

NEW DELHI, 19 June 2010: The Centre has decided to explore the feasibility of securing the extradition of former Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson, besides hiking the compensation for the Bhopal gas victims who look poised to get an additional package of Rs 982.75 crore.

The decisions to secure the custody and enhance compensation for victims 26 years after the disaster brings out the pressure being felt by the Centre because of the popular outrage in the aftermath of the meagre punishment meted out by a trial court in Bhopal earlier this month.

 

 

While Anderson’s extradition is doubtful, given his age and health, the government does not want to leave room for any impression that it did not try hard enough. The presence of foreign secretary Nirupama Rao at the meeting of the Group of Ministers on the Bhopal gas leak on Friday was a clear indication that the issue, despite doubts about its practicality, was very much on the table.

Also, the Centre feels that it should go ahead with the clean-up of the toxic site while pursuing the case on the liability of Dow Chemicals in the MP High Court.

Law minister Veerappa Moily has been tasked to explore the prospect of a review of the three judicial verdicts — including the trial court verdict of June 7 and the 1996 Supreme Court order which diluted the charges.

When the GoM met on Friday, for the first time in UPA-2, there were clear signs of a sense of urgency among members to address the feeling of victims that they have been given short shrift.