Bhopal Disaster

Presented by,
Lijo.c.varghese
 Introduction
• Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant
situated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. The UCIL
factory was built in 1969 to produce the pesticide
carbaryl . A methyl isocyanate (MIC) production
plant was added in 1979. MIC, an intermediate in
carbaryl manufacture.
 Tragedy
• The Bhopal disaster or Bhopal Gas Tragedy is the world's worst
industrial tragedy. It occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984
at the UCIL a leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other
chemicals from the plant resulted in the exposure of several
thousands of people.
• Chemicals (390 tons) cast off at the plant continue to leak and
pollute the ground water. Whether the chemicals pose a health
hazard is disputed.
• Estimate that 8,000 died within the first weeks and that another
8,000 have since died from gas-related diseases. the leak caused
558,125 injuries: minor - 516,406 , temporary partial disablement
- 38,478 , and severely and permanently disabled - 3,900
Actions taken by the
Government
IMMEDIATE RELIEF PROVIDED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT

• Economic relief provided in Dec'84 Rs.1.00

Crores
• Relief provided to 78,800 families with
monthly income less than Rs. 500
• Free food and milk supply to the victims
• Compensation paid to family members of
deceased victims at Rs. 10,000 per person
 Action plan for rehabilitation
• Apart from providing immediate and interim
relief to the gas victims provide long term relief and
rehabilitation to the Bhopal Gas Victims, Government of
India sanctioned an Action Plan from 1.4.1990 to
31.7.1999 with financial outlay of Rs.258.00 crores. 
Government of India provided 75% of the fund for the
Action Plan to the tune of Rs. 193.50 crores while 25%
of the fund for the Action Plan was provided by the
State Government to the tune of Rs.64.50 crores. Upto
March, 2009 the total expenditure incurred  is  Rs. 512.09
crores.
 CENTRE FOR REHABILITATION STUDIES
• Established in the year 1989 under the Department of
Gas Relief and Rehabilitation, Government of Madhya
Pradesh for the welfare of Bhopal Gas Victims to
conduct scientific research activities related to socio-
economic and demographic profile, medical research
and rehabilitation and for the documentation and
preservation work of the scientific documents. 
• Now the centre is declared as autonomous under
Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation
Department.
 MEDICAL REHABILITATION
• With a view to provide free medical relief to gas
victims, a massive medical rehabilitation program was
undertaken in which Rs.226.77 crores have been spent
under the Action Plan till 31.3.2003.  This amount
has been largely spent on construction, equipping,
staffing and providing free medicines and free
medical treatment to the gas victims through one
super-specialty, two specialty, four general, two
polyclinics and fourteen dispensaries.  The total
beds strength created in these hospitals is 634.
 BHOPAL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL TRUST   &
RESEARCH CENTRE
• This is a super-specialty hospital set up by
the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.  It is
being run by an autonomous trust under the
control of Hon'ble Supreme Court.  The
medical set up under the trust consists of a
super-specialty hospital and its allied 7 mini
units which act as referral units for the main
hospital.  The hospital is a 350 bedded
hospital with super specialties
 WELFARE COMMISSIONER
• This Office was set up for speedy disposal of the
compensation claims filed by the Bhopal gas
victims.  Under this office claims, courts have been
set up at three distinct levels under the Deputy
Commissioners, Additional Welfare Commissioner
and Welfare Commissioner.  The final compensation
award is also paid through this office to the gas
victims. It works under the control of Department of
Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of
Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India. 
 ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION
• As per first Action Plan an amount of Rs.29.13 crore has been spent till March
2008.
• The gas affected areas suffered severe environmental losses and ecological
degradation.  As such, with a view to improve ecological conditions, following
activities were undertaken:-
• Plantation of trees, development of green belts and open areas, Children's
Park, concrete of streets, Construction of sewerage/drainage lines,
Improvement of water supply schemes, Lighting of streets, Construction of
smokeless choolahs, Conversion of dry/open latrines into water flush
latrines.  
• The people, those who are living in gas exposed localities has been suffering
from various ailments including respiratory disorders so there is great need
of open spaces for pure air.  In view of this plantation and creation of paths
has been taken under consideration.  For this purpose a proposal of Rs.22.00
crores has been prepared and submitted to Government of India.
 SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR TEN GAS
AFFECTED WARDS
• Department has ensured pure drinking water
supply regularly to ten gas affected wards. 
Moreover, during the present financial year
(2007-08) an amount of Rs. 2.00 Crore has
also been sanctioned.  At present six high
quality over head tanks has been
constructed in the localities for distribution
of pure drinking water.
 JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
REHABILITATION
• Special administrative machinery was created
to undertake the colossal caste of relief and
rehabilitation.  This was done to cut down the
response time drastically.  The Bhopal Gas
Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department,
Directorate of  Gas Relief and Rehabilitation
and Office of the  Collector Gas Relief   were
set up   to ensure proper coordination between
the State Government and the field formations.
 ECONOMIC REHABILITATION
• Since, most of the gas victims are from the
lower strata of the society, the Government
took welfare measures to economically
rehabilitate the victims. To expedite the
matters, the Government has created a post of
Commissioner, Economic Rehabilitation,
headed by a senior I.A.S. Officer.
 Industrial Training Institute
• A massive self sufficient modern building has been constructed to
provide training to unemployed gas victims so that they could be
economically independent.  This Industrial Training Institute has
been transferred the administrative control to Manpower Planning &
Training Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh. 9,618 gas
victim/victim's children were given training in this ITI. up to
July, 2008. 296 students getting admission per year.  Since last two
years a placement cell have been established and the students
are getting employment through this cell.
• 152 large industrial sheds have been constructed in the special
industrial area which have been allotted to private
entrepreneurs and Government undertakings to run large
industrial units with a view to provide employment to larger
number of gas victims. 
 SOCIAL REHABILITATION
• As per first Action Plan an amount of Rs.49.72 crore was
sanctioned by Government of India. Milk distribution for pregnant
mother and children up to 6 years of age initially for 3 years had
been carried out for which an amount of Rs.22.00 crore had been spent.
• 2486 houses were constructed and distributed to relatives of gas
victims died of MIC exposure, out of which 2182 houses had already
been allotted.   Out of remaining 304 houses 2 houses have been
allotted to gas victim orphan children.
• To educate the Gas victim children the Department has vacated the
Claim Courts Buildings and developed as educational/social  
institutes.  15 such institutes have been established. 
• Widow pension was provided to 1077 widows of the gas related
deaths @ Rs.200/- p.m.
• 27 Orphans were maintained since 1984 to 2000