PM asks Bhopal GoM to submit report in 10 days - GoM Expected To Assess Remedies On Various Issues Involved

With the Bhopal gas tragedy verdict triggering an in-house Congress drama,government sought to shift focus onto the group of ministers (GoM) set up to examine the trial court's decision with PM Manmohan Singh seeking a report within 10 days. With Congress's efforts to control internal finger-pointing over events that led to a widely criticised verdict paying some dividends, the government is keen to present a more business-like approach as it feels the need to address the perception that offenders have escaped lightly while victims were poorly recompensed. Sources said the PM expects the GoM to come up with follow-up measures and look at the possibility of appeal or,as has been said by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, extradiction of former Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson apart from contentious issues like compensation. The GoM, headed by home minister P Chidambaram, is expected to hold an early meeting and  "take stock of the situation arising out of the recent court judgment ,to assess options and remedies available to government on various issues involved and to report to the Cabinet within ten days".

The belated move by the PM seems to gloss over the fact that the GoM was constituted on May 26, more than a week before the trial court verdict was delivered. The GoM has a limited mandate of remediation and rehabiliation for the Bhopal gas tragedy victims but can take up issues that it feels are of relevance. Given the outcry over the verdict,the GoM will not be unmindful of the public mood. With the PMO in its media release stating that the GoM is to take stock of the situation arising out of the court judgment, it is possible that the ministerial panel's mandate has been expanded as the terms of reference deal with only two critical issues, a technical plan for clean-up of contaminated site and funds for the clean-up.

Three technical institutes tasked by the government on the plan are expected to submit their report by the end of the month, which would help the GoM draw up a roadmap for a clean-up. At present, Govt. has slapped a notice of Rs 100 crore against Dow Chemicals, US MNC that bought over Union Carbide, as advance against remediation of the site and rehabilitation of victims affected by the gas leak and the consequent contamination of groundwater. Within the Congress,there is a strong view that controversy has been badly handled with even attacks on former MP CM Arjun Singh seen to have gone on for a little too long. The party made it a point on Monday to point to the GoM for the next steps on Bhopal while backing the demand for a clean-up of the site.
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(source-toi)