Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that after 40 years, disposal of toxic waste of Union Carbide Factory has been completed successfully. Now the complex will be developed along with the Gas Tragedy Memorial and Bhopal Metropolitan Area under the guidance of the Court.
Bhopal. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that on the intervening night of 2 and 3 December 1984, there was a massive leak of methyl isocyanide (MIC) gas in Bhopal. This incident was one of the biggest industrial tragedies not only of Madhya Pradesh but of the entire country. Thousands of families lost their loved ones in this accident.
After the incident, hazardous chemical waste remained lying in the Union Carbide factory premises for nearly 40 years. The Chief Minister said that his government has successfully disposed of this chemical waste under the guidance of the Honorable High Court without any environmental damage and human loss.
Gas tragedy memorial will be built in the cleaned premises
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that now the State Government, taking all sections of the society, gas victims and affected parties into confidence, under the guidance of the High Court, will move forward in the direction of building a grand memorial in the memory of those who lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in this cleaned complex. He made it clear that the state government stands with the gas victims at every step and no stone will be left unturned in their welfare.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav did a thorough inspection of the Union Carbide factory premises.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav conducted a thorough inspection of the Union Carbide factory complex located in Arif Nagar, Bhopal. He took information about memorial construction and development plans from the officials of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department.
During this, Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Alok Kumar Singh, Commissioner Public Relations Mr. Deepak Kumar Saxena, Director Gas Relief Mr. Swatantra Kumar Singh, Municipal Commissioner Mrs. Sanskriti Jain and senior officials of the Gas Relief Department were present.
There will be proper development of the campus along with Bhopal metropolitan area.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that as per the instructions of the High Court, proper disposal of toxic waste lying in the factory premises has been done. Now along with the construction of Bhopal Metropolitan Area, this complex will be planned and properly developed. It is noteworthy that in the history of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav is the first Chief Minister who visited the core area of the factory premises without any safety mask and inspected the site closely.
Gas Tragedy of 1984: The country’s worst industrial incident
While discussing with the media after the inspection, the Chief Minister said that the leakage of poisonous gas from the Union Carbide factory had happened during the rule of the opposition party. The scene of death that Bhopal saw on that fateful night in 1984 can never be forgotten.
He said that after the gas tragedy, the then government left this area abandoned. No concrete decision was taken to remove the toxic waste spread in the factory and the factory was closed. The people responsible at that time helped factory owner Warren Anderson leave the country. The Chief Minister said that the current leader of the opposition should apologize to the country for this.
The area did not develop even during the tenure of the UPA government.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that even during the tenure of the UPA government at the Centre, no concrete efforts were made for the development of the gas affected area. This area remained a victim of neglect for years.
The state government removed the stigma from the capital’s face.
The Chief Minister said that the present government, following all the instructions of the court, got the toxic waste of Union Carbide disposed of last year. This work is an example for the whole world how modern scientific techniques can destroy toxic waste without harm to the environment and humans. He said that with this work the state government has done the work of eradicating this stigma from the face of Bhopal. For this the Gas Relief Department and all concerned parties deserve congratulations.
Urban Development, Good Governance and Vision of Metropolitan City
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the state government is working with the Central Government to strengthen urban development and good governance. Under the guidance of the court, other development works including memorial will be done in the factory premises.
The state government has decided to make Bhopal and Indore metropolitan cities. Bhopal Metropolitan Area will include 6 districts. Due to this, the obstacles in the overall development of the capital are being removed and development works are being given constant pace.
On the request of the woman, the Chief Minister stopped the convoy, showed human sensitivity
While returning after inspection of the factory premises, the Chief Minister stopped his convoy on the request of a woman performing puja in Arif Nagar. The woman requested Lord Bholenath to offer incense sticks, which the Chief Minister accepted and took Bholenath’s blessings.
While interacting with the women of the area, the Chief Minister asked whether the funds for Ladli Brahmin Yojana were being received or not. The women told that they are getting Rs 1500 every month. The Chief Minister also interacted with the school children and made them happy by taking selfies with them on his mobile.
Immediate financial assistance to needy women
Meanwhile, Mrs. Manju Bai told the Chief Minister that her husband was ill and needed financial assistance. The Chief Minister immediately approved assistance of Rs 50,000 each to Mrs. Manju Bai and Mrs. Prabha Bai Kushwaha from the Chief Minister’s Voluntary Grant Head.
The Chief Minister directed the Municipal Corporation Commissioner to collect the information about the bank accounts of both the women and transfer the amount immediately. The Municipal Commissioner said that Rs 10,000 each will be given immediately on Saturday itself and the remaining amount will be deposited in their accounts soon.