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Bhopal survivors plan march to Delhi

Staff Correspondent

Demands include setting up of a national commission on Bhopal

BHOPAL: Around 150 survivors of the 1984 gas disaster here will begin a march on foot from Bhopal to New Delhi on February 20 to demand justice and a life of dignity for the people affected by the American multinational Union Carbide Corporation.

The march, led by four Bhopal-based organisations, will also include people affected by ground water contamination from Union Carbide's abandoned factory here. This was announced at press conference on Tuesday by Satinath Sarangi and Rachna Dhingra of The Bhopal Group for Information and Action, Champa Devi Shukla of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Syed M Irfan of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, and Shahid Noor of Bhopal ki Aawaaz. The marchers are likely to reach Delhi in the last week of March when they have sought a meeting with the Prime Minister. Depending on the response of the Central Government, the marchers may decide to go on an indefinite fast at the end of their 900-km-long march.

Their demands include a national commission on Bhopal that should be set up with necessary authority and funds to provide the gas victims the essential facilities for health care, economic rehabilitation, medical research and social support. However, their most urgent demand is that piped water should be supplied to 16 communities affected by toxic contamination of ground water from the Kolar reservoir near the State capital.

In their proposed meeting with the Prime Minister, the marchers would demand the setting up of a special cell in the CBI for speedy prosecution of Union Carbide Corporation, Warren Anderson and other absconding accused in the criminal case linked with the 1984 disaster. The campaigners also want the Government to stop the purchase of Dow Chemical's Dursban brand insecticide and other products till it accepts the pending liabilities of Bhopal. The survivors are demanding declaration of December 3 as a National Day of mourning.

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