Bhopal gas tragedy: Cabinet to discuss GoM report today

New Delhi, June 24 (ANI): The Union Cabinet will discuss the report of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

The Cabinet will seek approval to send a fresh request to the United States seeking extradition of former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson before the end of next month.

The Cabinet will also take a call on pushing Dow to pay for the damages and to take responsibility for the clean-up.

In a change of plan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who leaves for Canada on Friday, is believed to have decided that the Bhopal issue should be discussed in the Cabinet today itself instead of on June 25 as slated earlier.

The GoM headed by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram held four sessions since Friday to deliberate on areas that require attention for providing relief to people affected by the disaster.

It recommended a payment of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the dead.

Those permanently disabled or suffering from critical ailments arising out of the deadly methyl isocyanate gas leak are likely to get Rs five lakh, while those partially debilitated will get Rs three lakh. (ANI)