The Bhopal gas tragedy remains the worst industrial disaster in the world and perhaps the most pernicious barring nuclear disasters like Chernobyl. More than 40 years after the union carbide plant’s tank leaked out methyl Iso cyanide killing between four to 15 thousand people and injuring lacs, the victims are still suffering its aftermath. First they fought a twenty year long battle for compensation and another twenty five year battle for criminal justice. The plant is since shut, but with the toxic waste remains uncleared. Toxic residues have been left in unguarded isolation. So when news reports reveal that a ton of toxic mercury remains in the campus, and that the government science organizations are trying to cover it up, we realize that no lessons have been learned. The US courts have proved to be more sympathetic and responsive than our governments. Mercury poisoning has presented itself as dreadful Minamata disease, named after fateful the Japanese island. The affected still report high incidence of nerve damage and birth defects. Mercury poisoning is known to aggravate these. Industrial safety is still considered a luxury in our country. Years of trade union activism may have led to some safety measures for organized labor but the vast majority of unorganized industrial workers and the people living in the vicinity need to live with it. Waste disposal is not a priority, and most farms around industrial facilities show heavy metal pollution. Industrial zoning for hazardous industries is not strictly enforced. Public order crimes have still found their place in our jurisprudence and class action lawsuits are rarely brought. As environmental concerns are being watered down, for industries which are not coming, we may see more such incidents. Unless communities are empowered and informed about industrial practices, no effective checks will be possible. We routinely see Gramsabhas conducted under duress for mining and industrial units. This is the ethical challenge our democracy must face, while attempting to industrialize.
A call for responsible industrialization
