Chidambaram promises modern hospital for gas victims

Bhopal, June 5 (IANS) A hospital built for the Bhopal gas disaster victims will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Tuesday.

Chidambaram said this at a media conference during a visit to take stock of the toxic chemicals still lying in the now shuttered Union Carbide factory here.

On May 11, the Supreme Court asked the Group of Ministers on Bhopal to decide expeditiously on the disposal of the toxic waste.

Tons of lethal gas escaped from the Carbide factory on the night of Dec 2-3, 1984, killing thousands instantly. Many more died over the years, while many thousands suffered permanent disabilities.

Activists have complained that the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) that was built for the gas disaster victims has always been short on doctors, medicines and other facilities.

Even after the Carbide factory shut down, the rest of the toxic gas stored in the complex was never removed all these years.

The Madhya Pradesh government has given consent for the removal of toxic waste through a German firm, GIZ international.

The GoM on the Bhopal tragedy is scheduled to meet Friday to decide the further course of action for removing the toxic waste.

Chidambaram and fellow ministers Salman Khurshid and V. Narayanasamy also met some of the 1984 victims as well as activists.

Speaking on other issues, Chidambaram said it could take a few years to overcome the deficit of officers in the Indian Police Service.