The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Campaign to support Bhopal gas tragedy survivors

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Campaign to support Bhopal gas tragedy survivors

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S.R.Raghunathan

For a cause: MLA S.Ve.Shekher participates in a candlelight vigil organised in Chennai on Tuesday in support of the demands of the Bhopal gas tragedy survivors.

CHENNAI: Several thirsty people stopped by the ‘Thaneer Pandhal’ at the Elliots Beach to quench their parched throats on Tuesday. They learnt a little later about the purpose behind the setting up of the facility — to save the people of Bhopal who were subjected to drinking polluted water.

Organised by International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) volunteers, the two-day campaign aimed at creating awareness of the people who have little option than to drink the water polluted by the Union Carbide that was acquired by the Dow Chemical Company.

ICJB volunteer Nityanand Jayaram said the survivors of the tragedy caused by a gas leak in the Union Carbide factory in December 1984, have been demonstrating at New Delhi for the 46th day to meet the Prime Minister after marching 800 km from Bhopal to Delhi. But, their demands have not been heeded to.

The programme in the city aimed at raising support for them demanding environmental and medical rehabilitation and legal action against the company, he said.

Several beach-goers enquired about the campaign and enthusiastically signed in the petition.

Actor and MLA S.Ve.Shekher and environment enthusiast Ravi Kumar were among those who participated in the candle light vigil to show their solidarity with the residents of Bhopal demanding safe drinking water. Mr. Nityanand said, “People can sign in the petition at www.bhopal.net.”

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