India seeks Rs 5,786 cr more for Bhopal victims

In a petition settled by Attorney General G E Vahanvati, the Centre said it was demanding Rs 10 lakh for death, Rs 5 lakh for permanent disability, Rs 2 lakh for cancer and renal failure and Rs 1 lakh for temporary disability. 

The government said the “total number of death cases resulting from the tragedy is 5,295 whereas the impugned order proceeds on the basis that there were about only 3,000 deaths.”

 The government has sought the compensation from US-based Union Carbide and Dow Chemicals Company, Kolkata-based McLeod Russel India and Eveready Industries Ltd.
The petition filed by Secretary of Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers said the number of cases of minor injuries is 5,27,894 whereas the impugned order proceeded on the basis that there were only 50,000 cases. Also while the cases of temporary disability is 35,455, the impugned order proceeded on the basis that there were only 20,000.
The settlement compensation of $470 million calculated by the Supreme Court in May 1989 was on erroneous assumptions of facts that seriously impair the “reasonableness” and “justness” of the compensation amount, the petition said.

It also said the basic assumptions underlying the compensation being incorrect and far removed from the actual realities, the compensation amount needs to be suitably enhanced.