The Group of Ministers, GoM, on Bhopal gas leakage tragedy has decided to give additional compensation of 72 crore rupees for those who died in the gas tragedy in 1984 but were left out earlier. About four thousand more victims are likely to be covered by this. The GoM, which met in New Delhi on Monday, also decided to constitute an expert group to decide on the new place for disposal of toxic waste. AIR correspondent reports, the panel headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram reviewed the progress made by various ministries since June.The GoM had made 22 recommendations, which were accepted by the Union Cabinet. The GoM had recommended legal recourse to enhance charges against those responsible for the world’s worst industrial disaster, including pursuance of extradition of former Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson from the United States. It also focused on health-related and compensation issues of the victims and survivors of the gas leakage tragedy .A relief and remediation package of 1265.56 crore rupees was also announced.Seeking to further compensate for the lapses in previous court rulings, the Central Bureau of Investigation had in August filed a curative petition before the Supreme Court seeking restoration of stringent charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, which attracts maximum punishment of ten-year jail term, against the accused in the tragedy. A lower court in Bhopal had awarded mere two years of imprisonment to seven convicted Union Carbide officials.
News On AIR | September 27, 2010 8:46 PM
GoM on Bhopal gas tragedy to give additional compensation for left out victims