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After 26 years of the Bhopal Gas tragedy, the world¶s worst industrial
disaster, the court today held all the eight accused guilty.

Following is the chronology of the events:

J x
 
 0oxic methyl isocyanate gas releases from Union
Carbide India Ltd¶s (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal killing about 15,000
people and injuring at least five lakh others. Millions were left sick and the
affected passed on the harmful effects of the gas to the next generations.

J x
 
 [arren Anderson, the chairman of Union Carbide, is
among nine people arrested. But he was freed on bail of $ 2,000, upon a
promise to return..

J r  
 Indian government files claim for $ 3.3 billion from Union
Carbide in a US court.

J 
US District Court judge transfers all Bhopal litigation to India.
 u

u r  
 Indian government and Union Carbide strike an out-of-court deal
and compensation of $ 470 million is given by Union Carbide.

u r   

 Îublic protest against the unjust settlement followed by
filing of a number of review and writ petitions against the settlement in the Supreme
Court by the Bhopal Gas Îeedith Mahila Udyog Sangatan (BGÎMUS), the Bhopal
Gas Îeedith Sangarsh Sahayog Samiti (BGÎSSS) and other concerned groups.

u   Îart of $ 470 million is disbursed by the government among Bhopal gas

victims.

u å
   Despite numerous petitions by survivors¶ groups, the Supreme

Court allows Union Carbide to sell stake in UCIL to McLeod Russell (India) Ltd of
Calcutta.
 CON0D«.
J 2    Union Carbide announces merger with US-based Dow
Chemicals.
J å
   International environment watchdog Greenpeace
tests soil, groundwater and wells in and around the derelict Union
Carbide factory and finds 12 volatile organic chemicals and mercury
in quantities up to six million times higher than expected.
J r   Union Carbide refuses to take responsibility for
UCIL¶s liabilities in India.
J X A study by Srishti and 0oxics Links finds lead and
mercury in breast milk of nursing mothers in communities near the
plant.
 u

J X   Bhopal gas tragedy survivors launch a protest in New
Delhi when they hear the Indian government plans to drop charges
against Anderson.

J 
   Îrotests to clean up former UCIL factory site in

Bhopal that activists say contains thousands of tonnes of toxic waste.

J  0he Indian government formally conveys its request for

extradition of Anderson to the US.
 u

J 
 A US court says it could order Dow Chemicals to clean soil
and ground water in the abandoned factory site if the Indian government
provides a no objection certificate. 0he Indian government forwards the
certificate to the United States.

J X   India¶s Supreme Court orders the Central Bank to pay out
more than 15 billion rupees, part of the original $ 470 million received as
compensation kept in the account since 1992.

J 
   Bhopal gas victims protest the failure of the government
to pay victim¶s compensation.

J X  All eight accused, including the then Chairman of Union

Carbide Keshub Mahindra, in the Bhopal Gas disaster case convicted by a
court.
 u
u

J Îost the Bhopal verdict, corporate accountability is now under the scanner
like never before. From ordinary citizens to Bollywood, there is widespread
outrage that the company responsible for the world¶s worst industrial
disaster got away . 0here is a need for accountability at all levels, certainly
at corporate levels. [e should have clear rules and that Indian and foreign
companies have to follow. Rules that are applied fair and square to
everyone . 0he lack of a clear law has been a blessing in disguise for
companies operating in India.
J 0he judiciary took 26 years to pronounce its verdict in the world's worst
industrial disaster in which thousands died. And the law has treated it as an
accident, sentencing the accused to two years in prison. Is law really the
great civilizing machinery?
J 0oo little, too late ² these words sum up the
reaction to the Bhopal verdict. [e need to
ponder over the larger question that arises from
the verdict.
J 0he need for a separate law to deal with
industrial disasters, which addresses issues of
inquiry, compensation, conviction, punishment
and liability, cannot be overemphasised. (civil
nuclear libility bill)
J 0he media and civil society should bring pressure
on the government to learn from the mistakes
of Bhopal.