Bhopal gas tragedy victims sceptical about relief package

A day after the government announced a Rs 1,265.56 crore relief and remediation package for Bhopal gas tragedy victims, the people in the affected areas are sceptical about the enhanced compensation.

"We do not believe in any such announcements and we will have faith in them only when we receive some money in our hands," 75-year-old Surjobai, who runs a tea stall opposite the defunct Union Carbide factory told PTI.

Surjobai's grouse is that neither Prime Minister Manmohan Singh nor Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have paid a single visit to the gas affected areas till now.

"If Chouhan, who lives in Bhopal, cannot find time to visit the gas affected areas, how can one complain about Singh, who stays in New Delhi," she said.

Madhya Pradesh Gas Relief and Rehabilitation Minister, Babulal Gaur have visited the factory, but even he has not been to the gas affected areas, she complained.

Manik Lal, another gas victim in his mid-40s, also does not seem to be taken in by the compensation announced by the government.

"I doubt that we are going to get the enhanced compensation," he said.

65-year-old Abrar Mohammad, who was left with a flawed eyesight after the gas leak, said, "A lot of things are being talked about the compensation, but I am not sure that all gas affected persons will get it."

According to Gaur also, there is not much to rejoice as the compensation will be given only to 42,208 people out of the total 5,48,245 gas affected victims.