Bhopal GoM to submit report to Prime Minister today

The reconstituted Bhopal GoM headed by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will meet again today at 10 am to finalise the minutes of the meetings and will submit its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The reconstituted Bhopal GoM headed by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will meet again on Monday at 10 am to finalise the minutes of the meetings and will submit its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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In its four sessions, the panel has identified key areas of concern, including the possibility of greater compensation for the victims' families and those affected.

The sources said the conclusions of the final recommendations may also include suggesting a renewed bid to seek former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson's extradition and a trial in India.

The other issues the group has been discussing are: strengthening the legal framework to deal with industrial disasters; cleaning up the site; and exploring options of pressing liability claims against Dow Chemicals, which bought Union Carbide.

On Saturday, the GoM discussed the legal implications behind reopening the case against Union Carbide and providing health care for the victims.

A source privy to Sunday's meeting said that the onus of cleaning the site has been put on the state with close assistance from the central government.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reconstituted the high-level ministerial group, originally set up in 2008, following the public outrage after a Bhopal court June 7 sentenced seven Indian executives of Union Carbide to only two years in jail and granted them bail immediately.

The panel also consists of Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, Urban Planning Minister Jaipal Reddy, Roads and Highways Minister Kamal Nath, Tourism Minister Kumari Selja, Fertilisers and Chemicals Minister M.K. Alagiri, Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

Madhya Pradesh's minister in-charge of rehabilitation is a permanent invitee to the panel.

Nearly 40 tonnes of methyl isocynate gas leaked out of storage tanks of the Union Carbide factory, killing an estimated 20,000 people over the years. Over 3,000 died on the night of December 2-3. Some 25 years after the leak, tonnes of toxic chemicals at the abandoned plant continue to pollute the groundwater, posing health hazards to thousands of Bhopal residents.