Hiroshima-like memorial for Bhopal gas tragedy victims soon
The Madhya Pradesh government announced on Sunday to build a Hiroshima-like memorial for Bhopal gas tragedy victims on the premises of the defunct Union Carbide factory here, a decision welcomed by activists.
The Madhya Pradesh government announced on Sunday to build a Hiroshima-like memorial for Bhopal gas tragedy victims on the premises of the defunct Union Carbide factory here, a decision welcomed by activists.
Minister of state for gas tragedy relief and rehabilitation Vishwas Sarang said the memorial would be constructed at a cost of Rs 180 crore.
“I want the Bhopal memorial to be of international standards, like the one that has been built in Hiroshima, to remind people and the upcoming generations that such tragedies should not recur,” Sarang said after inspecting the Union Carbide factory premises from where methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas spewed out on the night of December 2-3, 1984, maiming over 5.7 lakh people.
The Bhopal gas tragedy, considered the world’s worst industrial disaster, killed more than 5000 people, according reports. The state government considered the death figures to be over 15,000, said gas activists who put the toll at over 20,000.
The concept and the plan of the memorial are ready and the work will start in two to three months, Sarang said. In 2005, the state government came up with a national design competition for the memorial.
The minister said, “The state government will request the Central Pollution Control Board for disposal of the toxic waste lying on the Union Carbide factory premises.” Ramky Infrastructure Limited has incinerated 10 tonnes of toxic waste at Pithampur, near Indore.
Submitting an action plan to the union ministry of chemical and fertilizer a few weeks ago, Sarang demanded a `100-crore grant to improve infrastructure in gas-affected localities. The infrastructure facilities include roads, water supply, drainage system, yoga centres, and rehabilitation centres.
The state government is working hard to ensure that the the gas tragedy victims get justice, he said.
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udhyog Sangathan (BGPMUS), which works for the survivors of the tragedy, welcomed the announcement for the memorial.
“When this memorial will be built, it will send a signal to the world that such a tragedy should not occur again, and inspire them to work for ensuring safety of people against such tragic incidents,” BGPMUS leader Abdul Jabar said, adding that his organisation had been demanding a memorial for the last two decades.