GoM Decides to Move Fresh Petition in Bhopal Gas Tragedy Case

The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Bhopal gas tragedy has decided that the central government will move a new petition in the case, said media reports.

The panel recommended that compensation to the families of deceased and to those were permanently or partially debilitated should be enhanced, reports said.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said that a new petition would be filed in the case and that all the legal costs would be borne by the government, said reports.

“Warren Anderson’s extradition was also discussed at the meeting. I would be submitting the report to the Prime Minister at 3.30pm today,” Chidambaram was quoted as saying.

Earlier reports said that compensation could be to the tune of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of those dead and upt to Rs 5 lakh to those with permanent disability and upto Rs 3 lakh to those with partial disability.

The GoM, which concluded its three-day deliberations, decided to make fresh efforts for the extradition of former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson and to come up with a ‘clean up’ project at the gas plant site in Bhopal to bury toxic material there, reports said.

The GoM, headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram, discussed various issues relating to criminal and civil liability, relief and rehabilitation and remediation in the wake of the Bhopal court verdict in the case two weeks ago.

(Based on internet reports)