Padyatra to remind PM of 2006 promise to gas victims

Bhopal, Feb 18: In a retake of Bhopal-Delhi 'padyatra' taken out two years ago, the victims of 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy will set out on a Delhi march to remind Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about his 2006 promise to help the victims and to punish the Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.

About 100 victims and their supporters will march from Bhopal on February 20 reaching Delhi on March 23 to remind the Prime Minister of the promises he did not keep, activists espousing the cause of gas victims said today.

Bhopal Group for Information and Action leader Satinath Sarangi told reporters that the marchers will demand setting up of an Empowered Commission, having representatives of gas victims, for long-term medical care and rehabilitation of the survivors as also legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.

''The government must make Dow Chemical pay for clean up of the hazardous waste in Bhopal and pay compensation for health and environmental damages caused due to chemical contamination of soil and ground water in areas adjoining the Carbide's pesticide plant from where toxic methyl isocyanate leaked causing death and maiming several thousand people'', Mr Sarangi said.

A similar march was taken out during February-March in 2006, he said, adding the Prime Minister had kept none of his promises and in the last two years, the Prime Minister's office has turned a blind eye to Dow Chemical's illegal activities in India.

UNI