Indepth: Bhopal Gas Disaster

Discussion in the Lok Sabha on Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Date: 11/08/2010

Uncorrected text of the discussion on Bhopal Gas Tragedy in Lok Sabha on Aug 11, 2010 centered on who was responsible for plight of the tragedy victims and who helped former chairman of Union Carbide, Warren Anderson, to escape to the US .

Related

Report: Comments on NEERI report on assessment & remediation of contaminated region around Union Carbide, Bhopal
Report: NEERI on remediation of hazardous wastes
Press Release: Bhopal environmental remediation oversight committee constituted
Judgement: Final verdict on Bhopal gas tragedy, June 7, 2010
Report: Minutes of Group of Ministers, 18-21 June, 2010
Opinion: The Bhopal legacy: reworking corporate liability
Opinion: Kick ass for Bhopal
Presentation: NEERI on remediation of hazardous wastes
Feature: Subterranean leak
Web exclusive: Bhopal, the toxic legacy – CSE special
Report: RTI raises fresh doubts

Latest News From Down To Earth

People in Indore and the adjoining Pithampur industrial area in Madhya Pradesh are protesting the incineration of Bhopal’s toxic waste near their homes. The waste disposal facility in Pithampur in Dhar district was completed recently. On March 18, the Madhya Pradesh state pollution control board allowed Ramky Enviro, the private company operating the facility, to start trial runs.

Not learning from Bhopal

It is 25 years of the Bhopal gas disaster—the night when chemicals spewed out of the Union Carbide factory to kill and maim thousands over generations.

Government Policies and Action Plans

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

03 Jun 2010

The National Green Tribunal Act 2010 approved by the President of India on June 2, 2010. It provides for establishment of National Green Tribunal- a special fast-track court for speedy disposal of environment-related civil cases.

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010

07 May 2010

Bill to provide for civil liability for nuclear damage, appointment of claims commissioner, establishment of nuclear damage claims commission and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Environmental Impact

Research on waste at the Union Carbide factory and what it has found

This fact sheet includes research on waste at the Union Carbide factory and what it has found.

Source: Centre for Science and Environment

Tags: Bhopal Gas Disaster, CSE, Industrial Disasters, Toxic Wastes, Union Carbide
What is being done regarding toxic waste at Union Carbide, Bhopal

This fact sheet contains what is being done regarding toxic waste at Union Carbide, Bhopal.

Source: Centre for Science and Environment

Tags: Bhopal, Bhopal Gas Disaster, Industrial Disasters, Toxic Wastes, Union Carbide

Bhopal plant disaster – situation summary

Source: University of Massachusetts

Tags: Bhopal (D), Bhopal Gas Disaster, Gas Leakages, Health Effects, Industrial Disasters, Madhya Pradesh, Pollution, Union Carbide
The Bhopal disaster and its aftermath: a review

Source: Environmental Health

Tags: Bhopal (D), Bhopal Gas Disaster, Gas Leakages, Health Effects, Industrial Disasters, Madhya Pradesh, Pollution, India
The Bhopal Gas Disaster : 25 years later

Source: BC CDC & The National Collaborating Centre

Tags: Bhopal (T), Bhopal Gas Disaster, Groundwater Pollution, Health Effects, Industrial Disasters, Madhya Pradesh, Waste Disposal, Environment, Hazardous Waste, Water Pollution
Toxic legacy

Source: Frontline

Tags: Bhopal (D), Bhopal Gas Disaster, Industrial Disasters, Industrial Waste, Madhya Pradesh, Tata Motors, Toxic Wastes, Union Carbide, Waste Management

Medical Aftermath

The Union Carbide Disaster in Bhopal: A Review of Health Effects

The authors have reviewed studies of human health effects that resulted from exposure
to methyl isocyanate gas that leaked from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India,
in 1984. The studies were conducted during both the early and late recovery periods. Major
organs exposed were the eyes, respiratory tract, and skin. Although mortality was initially

Source: Archives of Environmental Health

Tags: Bhopal, Bhopal Gas Disaster, Health Effects, Industrial Disasters, Methyl Isocyanate (MIC), Union Carbide
DRDE claims on toxicity of UC factory

This study was conducted to assess the safety with special reference to acute toxicity, if any of six samples (Excavated waste, Lime sludge, Naphthol tar (or Naphthol tar), Reactor residue, Semi processed pesticide and Sevin tar) collected from `Stored Toxic Wastes at the former UCIL plant site at Bhopal'.

Source: Defence Res. & Dev. Establishment

Tags: Acute Toxicity, Bhopal, Bhopal Gas Disaster, Industrial Disasters, Toxic Wastes, Toxicity Studies, Union Carbide, India

Impact

Judgment on the Bhopal Gas Disaster: In the Court of Bhopal, dated 7th June 2010

Final judgement on Bhopal gas disaster delivered 25 years, after the tragedy by Bhopal district court. 8 senior executives of Union Carbide have been convicted and sentenced to 2 years of Jail. But this is too little & too late, say victims and the activists.

Source: Bhopal District Court

Tags: Bhopal, Bhopal Act 1985, Bhopal Gas Disaster, Compensation, Court, Health Effects, Industrial Disasters, Madhya Pradesh, Toxic Wastes, Union Carbide, Environment, India

RTI raises fresh Bhopal doubts

The PMO documents on Dow Chemicals and its liability on Bhopal gathered by Bhopal activists. These have brought to light a letter written in 2006 by Dow Chemicals CEO Andrew Liveris to the then Indian ambassador to the US Ronen Sen, claiming that the Indian government had said that his company is not liable for the Bhopal gas tragedy.

Source: Prime Minister’s Office

Tags: Bhopal Gas Disaster, Court, Government Of India (GOI), High Court, Industrial Disasters, Madhya Pradesh, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Private Sector, Toxic Wastes, Union Carbide, Environment, Hazardous Waste

Books

Bhopal: The inside story

On the night of December 2, 1984, forty tons of deadly methyl isocyanate leaked out of a Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, India, killing thousands and injuring many more.
Bhopal: Industrial genocide?

The deaths in Bhopal caused by Union Carbide's noxious fumes should not have happened at all. Equally unnecessary and unwarranted is the continuing suffering of those who managed to survive. Situations that caused a tragedy of such magnitude could and should have been averted.