Union Carbide accountable for water pollution: Victims

NEW YORK: Union Carbide Corp (UCC) is responsible for water pollution that continues to foul local wells at the site of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster, the world's worst industrial tragedy, lawyers representing communities living near the plant have argued in a US federal court.

"The Plaintiffs have provided substantial evidence that demonstrates UCC's responsibility," said Richard Herz, Senior Litigation Attorney for EarthRights International (ERI), which represents the plaintiffs.

"Two leading experts concluded that UCC's technology and waste disposal strategy for the plant was improper for the site, and caused the water pollution that we still see today."

The arguments were made in the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit yesterday.

Over a year ago a federal district court here found that UCC could not be sued, despite compelling evidence that UCC caused the harm.

Additionally, the manager who oversaw the construction of the plant confirmed that he worked for UCC, not for the Indian subsidiary that officially operated the plant in Bhopal.

But the federal district court ruled that UCC was not sufficiently involved in the acts at the plant and that the project manager actually worked for the subsidiary.

Since the plaintiffs believe that the district court improperly disregarded evidence of UCC's responsibility, they appealed to the Second Circuit.

In December 1984, poisonous gas from the Bhopal chemical plant enveloped nearby communities, killing thousands.

The water pollution here is unrelated to the gas disaster, but has been leaking from the same plant ever since it was shut down afterward.

Marco Simons, ERI's General Counsel, added, "These families have been living with Union Carbide's pollution for decades. We remain committed to seeking the justice that they deserve."