Although the Rs.1,500-crore package recommended by the GoM for the Bhopal gas leak victims is welcome, it does not address the second and third generation victims who continue to suffer due to the ill-effects of the 1984 gas leak. The government should take up the cleaning of the UCIL plant immediately to get rid of the toxic waste and contaminated water. Once cleaned, the UCC premises should be auctioned and the money given to the second and third generation victims.
B. Keshavan,
Bangalore
The relief package, though belated, is welcome. To deal with such disasters in future, the Centre should constitute an industrial disaster relief fund. As India is expected to be the driving force of the world economy in the coming years, more industries, including nuclear plants, are going to be operationalised here. Instead of divesting its stake in nationalised banks and other public sector enterprises, the Centre can ask them to contribute every year to the new fund.
N. Chandrasekar,
Chennai
