Bhopal Gas victims' outfits oppose Carbide plant demolition

BHOPAL: Gas victims' organisations have strongly opposed the proposed demolition of the defunct Union Carbide plant here which killed thousands and maimed lakhs following the leakage of the deadly Methyl-Iso-Cyanate ( MIC) gas on December 2-3, 1984.

"It is an attempt to weaken the criminal case pending in the sessions court as the defunct plant is an important evidence in the case against Union Carbide," Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti Convenor, Sadhna Karnik told PTI.

Karnik was reacting to the opinion expressed by Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh yesterday on the issue.

"Though the state government and NGOs wants to preserve a part from where the gas leaked as monument, the Centre and the Group of Ministers (GoMs) on Bhopal Gas Tragedy want to raze the building of the Union Carbide Factory due to mercury contamination," Ramesh said.

However, the Centre has not taken a final call in the matter, he had said adding that the decision will be taken in July-August, after the state government and NGOs put forward their points.

"Tank no. 610 and the existing structure at the factory site is an evidence against the company. How can they demolish it ?" Karnik asked.

"There are many ways for making it free from contamination and if the very structure was removed then creating a permanent memorial will have no meaning," she said adding the move will be opposed whenever a meeting in this regard is held.