Centre mulls demolition of Union Carbide factory in Bhopal

"Though the state government and NGOs wants to preserve a part (of the factory) from where the gas leaked as monument, the Centre and the Group of Ministers (GoMs) on Bhopal gas tragedy want to raze the building of the Union Carbide Factory due to mercury contamination," he told reporters here.

However, a final decision in this regard will be taken only in July-August after the state government and NGOs present their case before the Centre, he added.

Ramesh said that the state government and the NGOs were free to put their point across and make a presentation against flattening of the Union Carbide factory's building.

Over 15,000 people were killed and lakhs maimed after methyl isocyanate gas leaked out from the Union Carbide factory in December 1984.