Bhopal Gas tragedy: Need to balance environment and development, says MP CM

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on the 30th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, called for establishing a balance between the environment and development to avoid another such tragedy.

"Today is the day to think about what kind of development, at what cost and whose development we are heading to. There is a need to establish a balance between the environment and development so that another Bhopal tragedy does not takes place," said Chouhan.

Chouhan said it was 'heart rending' to imagine what the victims had gone through on the fateful night.

"It is heart rending to even imagine what the victims had gone through that night. The gas started to leak suddenly and people could not even understand what has happened. There were many who got affected because of the poisonous gas and eventually spoiled their life. I pay my tributes to all the departed souls," he added.

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, however, pointed out that Rs 3,840 crores had been distributed among those who are receiving treatment.

"Two committees have been formed by the Supreme Court for the treatment of Bhopal Gas tragedy victims and we are working in the same direction. Even today, five lakh 74 thousand people are getting treated, who have been granted the amount of Rs 3,840 crores as compensation," said Chouhan.

An all-religion prayer meeting was held on Wednesday morning in Madhya Pradesh's Barkatullah Bhawan to pay the homage to the victims of gas tragedy.

Non government organizations organized torch rallies, protests and street plays on the eve of gas tragedy to demand justice for tragedy survivors.

The victims are demanding proper compensation, adequate medical care, disposal of toxic waste in and around Union Carbide factory premises and exemplary punishment to the accused of the tragedy criminal case.

They have also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard. Even after the thirty years of Bhopal gas tragedy, its victims continue to be plagued with a number of problems that have not been resolved yet.