MP government grilled over gas leak

NK SINGH

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Government was hauled over the coals on Tuesday in the state assembly over its failure to protect the lives and property of citizens. The Vidhan Sabha was debating the admissibility of an adjournment motion to discuss the recent leak of chlorine and acid fumes from the Union Carbide factory here.

The Government was grilled more sharply as opposition members found that The Industries Minister, Mr. Bharat Singh, in his statement had tried to parrot the Union Carbide's version of the leak, brushing away reports of panic in the locality. The minister quoted the Union Carbide version in his statement.

The Government denied that any dangerous chemicals were left in the plant. It furnished a list of chemicals in the plant, which are being gradually disposed of. 

The list included mono methyl amine and chlorine. chloro sulphonic acid and ACB but failed to mention other chemicals like chloroform and carbon tatra chloride. The minister was reading the reply prepared by officials who depended heavily on the Union Carbide for their information instead of doing an independent investigation.

Mr Bharat Singh informed the House that the entire stock of 35 tonnes of mono methyl amine in the factory at the time of the December disaster, in which 2.500 persons were killed, had been disposed of. Of the 110 tonnes of chlorine, 89 tonnes had been disposed of and 128 out of 155 tonnes of chlorosulphonic acid had been cleared.

The minister claimed that Thursday's chlorine leak was very minor and there was no reason for any scare.

Even as the government statement was made in the state assembly, the Bhopal Gas Pidit Apangharch Morcha took out a rally to demand proper relief and rehabilitation for gas victims. The delegation presented a memorandum to the Chief Minister. Mr Motilal Vora demanded medical treatment for thousands of people still suffering from the ill effects of the poisonous MIC gas.

Mr Vora also denied that a bribe of Rs 10 lakh had been taken by someone at the time of renewal of the licence of the Union Carbide pesticide plant, adds UNI. The Union Carbide had no hold over the government, he added.

Mr Vora said he would hold discussions with opposition leaders and take them into confidence regarding the December 2 gas tragedy.

Mr Bharat Singh said a decision had already been taken not to allow the factory to reopen. Work to remove the chemicals stored there was going on speedily.

He clarified that the Indian Council of Medical Research had not recommended that all the gas victims be administered sodium thiosulphate injections. These injections were administered only when necessary, he said.

Indian Express

April 2, 1985