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India needs to rethink Bhopal disaster pay-out, says UN investigator
25.11.2014 08:02 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
Indias announcement that its to give more cash to victims of one of the worst industrial disasters in history wont make the problem go away, UN Radio says referring to the UN Special Rapporteur Baskut Tuncak report.
Mr. Tuncak admits financial compensation alone will not put an end to the legacy left by the toxic gas leak from a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal city 30 years ago.
Thats because «new victims are being born every day and suffer lifelong from adverse health impacts», he explained.
Besides, the UN expert believes it is a good news that India is going to reconsider the official number of victims.
But the soil and groundwater around the site in central India are still contaminated despite the fact that people still live there.
If the area is not cleaned, the toxic legacy will continue to grow, along with Indias financial liability to a rising number of victims, Mr. Tuncak says.
It is to be reminded, thousands of people were killed when lethal gas spewed from the chemical plant on the 2nd of December 1984.
As to the official figures, 3,500 people died within days of the accident. However, international NGOs point to much higher figures.
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