Over five lakh Bhopal gas disaster victims compensated: Govt

"After adjudication of their claims under various categories, 5,74,376 claimants have originally been awarded compensation amounting to Rs 1,548 crore till June 30," Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Jena said in a written reply.

The minister also said that till June 30, 2010, a total of 5,62,648 claimants have received pro-rata compensation amounting to Rs 1,509.89 crore, while the remaining 11,728 are yet to come up to receive it. In 2004, the Supreme Court had directed disbursal of pro-rata compensation on 1:1 basis, which was disbursed from 2004 onwards.

"There are a total of 11,728 cases of claimants who have not appeared before the Office of Welfare Commissioner for receiving the pro-rata amount despite notices sent at indicated addresses, circulation in media and adequate time accorded," Jena said. He further informed the Lower House that the Cabinet has approved all the recommendations of the reconstituted Group of Ministers (GoM) with the modification that "enhanced compensation" recommended by the GoM will be paid as "ex-gratia".

"The follow up action on various decisions of the Cabinet has been initiated by the concerned departments of the Centre as well as the Madhya Pradesh government in a time-bound manner as approved by the government," Jena added.

Among other recommendations of the GoM, constituted recently to examine all matters related to Bhopal gas disaster, it has said that the Ministry for Chemicals and Fertilisers may be directed to file appropriate applications before the courts concerned, requesting them, especially the MP High Court, to expeditiously decide on the question of liability of Dow Chemicals Company.

Once this question is addressed, the various legal proceedings involving Dow Chemicals and any other person or company found liable can be taken forward, the GoM said.