Organizations representing Bhopal Gas survivors seek government intervention in U.S. courts

Five organizations working for the rights of survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster called upon the Centre and the Madhya Pradesh Government to urgently respond to the juridical issues concerning the ongoing contamination of soil and groundwater.

They said the last date of intervention by the Madhya Pradesh Government in the suit for environmental remediation in Bhopal by Union Carbide Corporation, USA, pending in the US Federal Court is November 28.

Balkrishna Namdeo of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha said that on July 30, Justice Keenan in the Southern District Court of New York dismissed the matter concerning contamination of soil and ground water in and around the Union Carbide factory.

The 17 plaintiffs from Bhopal represented by US-based attorneys from-EarthRights International, Sharma and Deyoung LLP, and the Law Offices of Curtis V. Trinko have against the unjust order before the second circuit court of appeals.

"The state government was served notice by the US court in early March 2014 but despite the Chief Minister's declaration in the Assembly in 2010, the government made no efforts to present the case for clean up of the Union Carbide factory site and its surroundings till the matter was dismissed." said Rachna Dhingra from the Bhopal Group for Information and Action.

"The state government through its lawyers only has till November 28 before the US court during the appeal process and make Union Carbide pay for their reckless dumping of hazardous wastes. " she said.

Rashida Bee of Bhopal Gas Peedit Stationary Mahila Karmchari Sangh said that they have written to the office of Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh on February 4 and to the office of Chief Minister on July 30 urging the Madhya Pradesh Government to immediately intervene in this urgent matter.

She said another set of reminders were sent to all concerned officials and ministries in November, but they have not heard back from anyone.

"We are hopeful that Government of Madhya Pradesh through Government of India will listen to us in this year of the 30th anniversary of the disaster and intervene to seek money towards cleanup and remediation from Union Carbide in the litigation pending in the US courts," said Safreen Khan of Children Against Dow-Carbide.