BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY
BY HARISH K. MONGA
Industrial accidents such as Bhopal are not just an Indian or even a Third World problem. Bhopal gas tragedy was one of the world's worst chemical disasters. Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to industrial crises. However, the deficiencies in the management of UCIL, lack of skilled operators due to the staffing policy, insufficient maintenance of the plant, less stringent quality control and looser safety rules, are the main causes of tragedy for which the management of Union Carbide, is solely responsible.
Justice delayed is justice denied rightly fits in this case as simple two years imprisonment against the killing of 15000 people have been announced.
At the same time, it is not just a case of delayed and inadequate punishment for the accused that has hurt the victims; they are also anguished and worried over other related issue of removal of toxic waste despite the orders of Supreme Court.
I don’t think hanging all the eight accused or putting them behind the bars for life time, will bring any relief to the gas victims. In fact, the Bhopal victims, from the very beginning, should have stressed upon occupational and habitation rehabilitation, health care as even if the Supreme Court does review the verdict of lower court, the accused can be tried under Section 304 part-II of the IPC for culpable homicide not accounting to murder that entails a maximum imprisonment of ten years.
Even after 25 years and six months,, despite warning by the environmentalists, the waste is still a potential mine filed in the heart of the society. Lack of political will power has led to a stalemate on the issue of cleaning up the plant and hundreds of tons of toxic waste. Another major problem is of providing of clean water to the residents of gas-hit localities which has caused health complications for thousands living in the vicinity of the UCIL factory.
The law has to take its course as per the provisions and circumstances but we should learn a lesson from such worst incidents and adopt strict safety measures while inspecting the industrial units. While inspecting the units, we should not play with the life by accepting the small bucks.
I still feel that Union Carbide authorities can redress the grievances of the Bhopal victims by assuming responsibility for the continuing physical and mental suffering of the Bhopal survivors and provide medical information and necessary services for their long term medical care and deprivation of the survivors who are too sick to perform their usual jobs and provide for their economic and social rehabilitation.
Good Article......
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