MP CM criticises GOM for ignoring gas victims

New Delhi Jul 27: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has demanded special discussion on the ministerial body on the compensation issue for victims in the gas tragedy and criticized the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Saturday Jul 24.

He said that more than 90 percent of the gas victims will not get any additional compensation as the amount has been given to 42,166 victims by the GoM and more than 5,20,000 victims were left out.

"I must also point out that the GOM completely ignored 10,047 gas victims who died as a result of the gas tragedy. This group has not been given any additional compensation," Chauhan said.

"I would urge that the entire question of additional compensation is revisited and a special session of the GoM should be convened for this subject," he said.

Last month, the GoM led by Home Minister P Chidambaram favoured enhanced compensation for victims and cleaned up Union Carbide factory premise.

Disposing toxic waste, agitations were created among the locals in Pithampur area in Dhar district as they "have a lot of misgivings about the after affects of burning of chemical waste and there is opposition to this act."said Chief Minister.

Chauhan clearly pointed out the maintenance of the toxic waste to the central government and should be done under the guidance of committee set up by the GoM

Assuring the Centre full support for disposal of toxic waste, the chief minister said it should be done under the guidance of the oversight committee set up by the GoM.

He also urged the Centre to approve state government's proposal to create a corpus of Rs 500 crore for the relief and rehabilitation of gas victims.

OneIndia News