Fresh action on Bhopal gas tragedy

NEW DELHI: Government was set to unveil new steps on Thursday to tackle the toxic legacy of the Bhopal gas tragedy amid fresh public outrage over the handling of the disaster nearly 26 years on.

The cabinet led by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to consider recommendations by senior ministers of what action to take to clean up the still-polluted site and bring those blamed for the accident to justice.

"All key issues connected with the Bhopal gas tragedy will be taken up by the prime minister today," a senior officer at the home ministry told AFP, adding that a press conference had been organised for late Thursday.

The disaster took place in December 1984 when a pesticide plant run by US chemical group Union Carbide spewed 40 tonnes of toxic gas into residential areas of the central Indian city of Bhopal.

The gas killed thousands instantly and tens of thousands more from its lingering effects over the following years.

Public anger over the case was revived earlier this month after a court sentenced seven local managers of the plant to two years in prison, punishment viewed as too lenient by survivors' groups.

In the face of public anger over the sentences and continuing health problems in Bhopal, the prime minister set up a panel of senior ministers to review the handling of the accident and its aftermath.

The panel has suggested doubling the compensation for the families of the dead to one million rupees (22,000 dollars), as well as setting aside federal funds of three billion rupees (66 million dollars) for a clean-up of the site. It also recommended that India pursue the American former chief executive of Union Carbide, now-retired Warren Anderson, who is considered a fugitive in India where he faces charges of negligence.

India has requested his extradition from the United States in the past, but without success.

Groups representing victims of the disaster have already rejected the fresh recommendations.

"The government has failed to understand the scale of damage," said Satinath Sarangi of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action.

"There is no mention of the second and third generation victims and the constant medical complications being caused by the contamination," he added.