Bhopal gas tragedy 41st anniversary: Survivors condemn govt support to Dow Chemical growth in India

Senior Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL: During the rally marking the 41st Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, hundreds of survivors of the disaster condemned the Indian government’s support to Dow Chemical’s phenomenal growth in India in the last 11 years.

Leaders of four organizations of survivors rallying for justice condemned the government for its “unholy nexus” with an American corporation that is still sheltering Union Carbide, a fugitive in the criminal case on the disaster.

The survivors participating in the rally carried an effigy representing Dow Chemical that was set on fire at the end of the rally amidst vigorous chants of protest and condemnation.

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy that struck on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984 saw huge amount of toxic Methyl Iso-Cynate (MiC) gas escaping the Union Carbide fertiliser factory in congested old city of Bhopal, killing thousands and maiming lakhs for life.

The effects of the toxic gas continues to have grave health complications for even the third generation of the survivors. Also, the contaminated water and soil around the abandoned Union Carbide factory site continues to have serious health impacts for the local residents, four decades after the tragedy that is considered the worst global industrial disaster.

Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh said, “The levels of support the Indian government has extended to Dow Chemical will shock anyone.

The latest is the transport of discarded chemical plant machinery by Dow Chemical from Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany and using them for its factory in Dahej Gujarat. Dow has had to dismantle many of its chemical plants in Germany and other parts of Europe because of strict environmental regulations.”

“Dow Chemical’s growth since Narendra Modi government came to power is mainly because of its investments in Gujarat and Maharashtra, two BJP ruled states.” said Balkrishna Namdeo, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha.

Describing the investments, he said, “Dahej is the largest integrated chemical manufacturing complex in India with multi-billion dollar investment from Dow. It produces Polyurethane that is known to produce MIC, Bhopal’s killer gas, when it catches fire. Dow Chemical’s 2500 Crore investment in Lote Parashuram, Maharashtra is also a mega manufacturing site for toxic chemicals.”

Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action said, “Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have had a major role in boosting Dow Chemical’s business in the last 11 years in India.

PSUs such as Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) provide raw material for Dow’s manufacturing facilities.

Many of these also purchase Union Carbide’s intellectual properties from Dow Chemical, which is forbidden under criminal law.”

Nawab Khan, President of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha said, “Government schemes, some ironically meant for the poor, have helped Dow Chemical to boost their business in the last 11 years. Houses constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana use Dow Chemical’s Polyurethane insulation and other products and Dow Chemical’s water treatment technologies are part of Jal Jeevan Mission and the corporation that refuses to clean up Bhopal’s poisons is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission.”