The Bhopal gas tragedy is still killing and maiming people due to poisoning of groundwater from reckless dumping of toxic waste by Union Carbide during its 14 years of operation prior to the disaster, five organizations said on November 30.

“The MP government is equally responsible for the plight of survivors and the utter neglect of their children’s health. In the last 12 years, the state government has not implemented recommendations of the monitoring committee set up by the Supreme Court,” Rachna Dhingra from Bhopal Group said at a joint press conference held here.

“The preliminary findings of the Sambhavna Trust’s research shows that 10 times more gas affected people are dying of cancer compared to unexposed people of similar socio - economic background. The bottom-line is that half the victims of the disaster are Muslims and 80% of the Hindus are from the low castes,” said Safreen Khan from the Children against Dow-Carbide.

Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh president Rashida Bee said Dow Chemical, which took over from Union Carbide in 2001, ignored four judicial notices asking its representative to appear before a court in last two years.

Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha president Balkrishna Namdeo alleged the factory was set up and run with much help from the US government. “And, now the US government is sheltering both Dow Chemical and Union Carbide by refusing to serve the Bhopal Court’s notices to Dow. This year within one month, thousands of people wrote to the US President’s office asking that the Department of Justice serve the notice on Dow Chemical. All we got in response was an apology for deliberate inaction,” he said.

Nawab Khan from Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha alleged that the Centre was downplaying the figures of death and extent of injuries in the apex court. “It is also refusing to carry out a scientific assessment of the toxic contamination of soil and groundwater,” he claimed.

At the same venue, Sayunkt Sangarsh Morcha MP, Bhopal, state president Shamsul Hassan convened a press conference, 'demanding that there should be a CBI probe in the funding of the NGOs, especially those receiving foreign funding. He also demanded that healthcare facilities should improve in the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre'.

The biggest problem which the survivors face is the correct line of treatment which they should get. Despite all out efforts made during these 32 years, the Union Carbide has not disclosed the content of the gas leaked on that fateful night. Besides that the US based factory also did not disclose the nature of treatment which could have cured the victims. For the treatment of the gas victims several hospitals and clinics were established in Bhopal. Besides a super speciality hospital known as Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre was not established. Originally this Bhopal Memorial Hospital was established out of the fund provided by the Union Carbide. This Hospital was run by a trust headed by Shri Ahmadi, the retired Chief Justice of India. Later it was handed over to the government of India. At present the hospital is in bad shape.

Due to many factors several specialists left the hospital. Because of the desertion by specialists the hospital was not providing specialised treatment to the gas victims who are still suffering from serious ailments.

A move was made by the state government to takeover this hospital. But this move was opposed by the hospital staff and also by voluntary organisations which are working for the welfare of the gas victims.

It appears that this move has been finally dropped. Announcement to this effect has been made by Vishvas Sarang, Minister of State in charge Gas Tragedy and Relief. Sarang has stated that the hospital will be run by the government of India and it will enjoy the status of P.G. Institute and Super Speciality Hospital. Besides the National Institute of Environmental Health will be entrusted the task of carrying out research in the nature of diseases being suffered by the gas tragedy survivors.

Sarang also announced that gas hospitals will be equipped with various facilities like CT scan, MRI. Other pathological investigations will also be done in the hospitals. So far these facilities were outsourced.

The gas victims and their representative organisations used to allege that the BJP government does not pay adequate attention to them. If the announcements made by Sarang are implemented there is every likelihood that the tragedy survivors might change their opinion. But there is no doubt that at present adequate facilities is not available in gas hospitals and clinics.

Besides medical treatment gas victims also complain that the state government has not fulfilled various promises made by it in the past. It may be recalled that the state government promised to provide employment to gas victims. Keeping in view their physical condition. Nothing has been done in this respect. Besides the gas victims still feel that the compensation given to them is far from adequate.

Meanwhile in a strange and unprecedented development FIRs have been filed against then (Dec. 1984) collector Moti Singh and SP police Swaraj Puri holding them guilty to facilitate escape by Anderson then chairman of American Union Carbide. The FIRs have been filed on the direction of a Bhopal court. Anderson came to Bhopal all the way from USA three or four days after the gas leakage. But within minutes after his arrival in Bhopal he was arrested and within a few hours after his arrest he was allowed to leave Bhopal. Why he was arrested and why he was set free is still shrouded in a mystery. Both the collector and SP escorted Anderson to Bhopal airport from where he flew to New Delhi in state government's aircraft. A case was filed in a Bhopal court accusing them facilitating his escape. After his escape repeated demands were made to bring him to Bhopal and face the prosecution proceedings in the court.

The Bhopal court while deciding the case prima facie held them guilty of helping Anderson to escape though he was arrested and was required to attend the court which he did not do.

Both the officers retired long back and are living in Bhopal. It is difficult to predict what turn the case may take. But there is no doubt that Moti Singh and Puri could not have decided to facilitate Anderson's escape without the direction from the highest authorities perhaps either by the then Prime Minister (Rajiv Gandhi) or the Chief Minister (Arjun Singh). (IPA Service)