COURT ALLOWS UNION CARBIDE FACTORY TO BE OPENED

COURT ALLOWS UNION CARBIDE FACTORY TO BE OPENED

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh High Court Wednesday permitted the state government to open the defunct Union Carbide factory here to the public, 25 years after the lethal gas release from it killed and maimed for life thousands of people on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984.

The government had moved the state high court seeking permission for opening the factory while some NGOs opposed the move.

The NGOs are opposed to opening the factory as they claim that toxic waste is lying there. International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal representative, Rachna Dhingra claimed that at least 10 governmental and non-governmental studies have confirmed presence of highly toxic chemicals in and around the factory.

The government plans to open the factory to public for a week on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.

"The high court has permitted the government to open the factory to the public. We will decide upon the dates at a meeting Thursday," said Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Babulal Gaur.

Source:  The New Indian Express