LOK SABHA
Government is committed
to provide all possible help to the Bhopal Gas victims. It has
created an office of the Welfare Commissioner under the Bhopal
Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985 to adjudicate
and disburse compensation to Bhopal gas victims. In all, 10,29,431
cases were filed by the claimants, out of which 10,29,265 cases
have been disposed of by the end of 31st October 2002.
An amount of Rs.1521.56 crore has been disbursed as compensation.
CBI has filed a criminal case in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate,
Bhopal against Union Carbide Corporation in the court of Chief
Judicial Magistrate, Bhopal against Union Carbide Corporation
and others. 89 prosecution witnesses have been examined, so far.
According to information received from CBI, a revised request
for extradition of Mr. Warren Anderson is under final stages of
preparation. For the medical, social, economic and environmental
rehabilitation of Bhopal Gas victims, the Central Government had
approved a five-year Action Plan with an outlay of Rs.258 crore.
This outlay was to be shared between the Government of India and
the State Government of Madhya Pradesh in the ratio of 75:25.
The Central Government has already released it entire share of
Rs. 193.50 crore. The State Government is implementing the Action
plan.
Union Carbide
Corporation (UCC) was held liable for the tragedy in Bhopal. The
final settlement was arrived in the Supreme Court and as a consequence
UCC paid $470 million as compensation for the victims of the tragedy
in full settlement of all civil claims, rights and liabilities
related to and arising out of Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster. In addition,
on the directions of the Supreme Court, UCC have also financed
a hospital for the gas victims in Bhopal.
This information
was given by Shri Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Minister of Chemicals
& fertilizers, in a written reply to a question in the Lok
Sabha today.
