GoM on Bhopal to meet on Friday, to look into compensation

NEW DELHI: Amid raging controversy over the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, government on Thursday said the reconstituted Group of Ministers ( GoM) meeting tomorrow will discuss all areas of concern, including the compensation for the victims which has not been "adequate".

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said the GoM will look into all aspects of the tragedy in which over 15,000 people were killed and lakhs affected.

"The GoM will look at all issues, more specifically reaching out to those people who unfortunately have not got enough compensation, adequate compensation in last so many years," she told reporters.

Noting that two hours have been kept for the GoM meeting headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram, she expressed confidence that it will "address concerns on a priority basis".

The GoM has before it various items under its purview and it will pay sufficient attention to each one of them, Soni said.

The GoM, reconstituted on June 7, will examine issues like remedial measures and make appropriate recommendations relating to the relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the tragedy and their families.

The nine-member GoM was reconstituted amid raging controversy over the quantum of punishment given to those accused in the case, with the political class in unison terming it as "too little, too late".

Besides Chidambaram, the panel includes Ghulam Nabi Azad, M Veerappa Moily, S Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath, Selja, MK Alagiri, Prithviraj Chavan and Jairam Ramesh.

Madhya Pradesh minister in-charge of rehabilitation will be a permanent invitee.