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January 04, 2007

Tata's offer to clean up Carbide waste opposed

Bhopal Central Chronicle, January 3, 2007

Bhopal, Jan 3: Four NGOs working among the survivors of Bhopal gas tragedy have opposed Tata group chairman Ratan Tata's offer to take initiative for cleaning up the chemical waste around the Union Carbide's pesticide plant, from where toxic gas leaked in 1984, saying moral responsibility for the cleaning lies with Dow Chemicals with which Carbide was merged.

''Dow Chemicals could not escape from its moral responsibility'', said the leaders of the NGOs. Bhopal Group for Information and Action leader Satinath Sarangi, while talking to reporters here today, alleged Tata, as co-chairman of Indo-US CEO Forum, was attempting to protect the interests of Dow Chemicals which is keen to invest in India. He suggested that Tata should first clean up the waste around his facilities across the country. Sarangi appealed the people to boycott Tata products.

In response to Dow Chemicals offer to invest in India, Tata wrote to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman MS Ahluwalia in November last year volunteering to clean up chemical waste near Bhopal plant, from where several tonnes of toxic gas leaked causing death and injury to several thousand people.

Posted by bhola at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)

1984 Bhopal survivors say Ratan Tata anti-national

Express News Service, January 3, 2007

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 3: Leaders of four organisations of survivors of the December 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal have condemned Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata’s offer to clear the path for Dow-Union Carbide’s investments in India by leading an effort to pay for and clean up Union Carbide’s toxic waste in Bhopal.

Displaying a poster of Ratan Tata with a garland of shoes around his neck they called him an anti-national element, who was causing damage to the people and environment by facilitating the expansion of US multinational Dow Chemical in this country. They appealed to Bhopal survivors to boycott Tata’s salt as a mark of protest, and have launched a national boycott campaign.

The leaders emphasised that Dow Chemical took over the environmental liabilities of Bhopal when it became the 100% owner of Union Carbide in 2001. They said according to the “polluter pays principle”, which is valid in the US and India, Dow/Union Carbide must pay for the clean up in Bhopal.

Posted by bhola at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)

Bhopal gas tragedy victims for boycotting Tata products

New Kerala, January 3, 2007

Bhopal, Jan 3: Activists working for Bhopal gas tragedy victims today threatened to boycott Tata products, accusing the group of offering to "clear the path" of US company Dow Chemicals' investments in the Union Carbide factory here.

"We ask people to shun Tata salt. Protests will be staged at every venture of Tata group across the country," the activists threatened at a press conference here.

They were critical of the reported efforts of Tata group chairman Ratan Tata as co-chairman of US-India CEO Forum to attract Dow investments in India.

The activists belonging to various groups working for Bhopal gas tragedy victims also announced a national campaign in this regard.

The activists maintained that Dow chemicals took over environmental liabilities of Bhopal when it became the owner of Union Carbide in 2001.

According to `polluter pays principle', which is valid in the US and India, it should pay for cleaning up toxic waste, the activists demanded.

Posted by bhola at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)

Ta ta to Tatas: NGOs oppose offer to clean up Carbide waste

IndiaPress.Org, Bhopal, January 3, 2007

* appeal to people to boycott Tata products

* ask Ratan Tata to apologise

Four NGOs working for the survivors of Bhopal gas tragedy have opposed Tata group chairman, Ratan Tata's offer to take the initiative in cleaning up the chemical waste around the Union Carbide's pesticide plant, from where toxic gas had leaked in 1984, saying that the responsibility for cleaning lies with Dow Chemicals, with which Carbide was merged.

They blamed the industrialist for causing damage to the people and environment by facilitating expansion of American multinational, Dow Chemical in the country. The leaders of survivors' organisations even garlanded a poster of Ratan Tata with shoes and appealed to the people to boycott Tata salt as a mark of protest and launch a national boycott campaign.

"Dow Chemicals could not escape from its moral responsibility", said the leaders of the NGOs. Bhopal Group for Information and Action leader, Satinath Sarangi, while talking to mediapersons on Wednesday, alleged Tata, as co-chairman of Indo-US CEO forum, was attempting to protect the interests of Dow Chemicals which is keen to invest in India. He suggested that Tata should first clean up the waste around his facilities across the country. Sarangi appealed the people to boycott Tata products.

In response to Dow Chemicals offer to invest in India, Tata wrote to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman MS Ahluwalia in November last year volunteering to clean up chemical waste near Bhopal plant, from where several tonnes of toxic gas leaked causing death to several thousand people.

Sarangi even alleged that Ratan Tata has been following footsteps of his ancestors and serving imperialist interests in his role as the Co-Chairman of the US-India CEO forum. He also condemned the head of the Tata family, JRD Tata who had criticised arrest of Warren Anderson after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and asked Ratan Tata to apologise to the people of Bhopal for this treachery by his family.

Posted by bhola at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)

Trouble follows Tatas to Bhopal

Chennai Online, January 3, 2007

Bhopal, Jan 3: Activists working for Bhopal gas tragedy victims today threatened to boycott Tata products, accusing the group of offering to "clear the path" of US company Dow Chemicals' investments in the Union Carbide factory here.

"We ask people to shun Tata salt. Protests will be staged at every venture of Tata group across the country," the activists threatened at a press conference here.

They were critical of the reported efforts of Tata group chairman Ratan Tata as co-chairman of US-India CEO Forum to attract Dow investments in India.

The activists belonging to various groups working for Bhopal gas tragedy victims also announced a national campaign.

The activists maintained that Dow Chemicals took over environmental liabilities of Bhopal when it became the owner of Union Carbide in 2001.

According to "polluter pays principle", which is valid in the US and India, it should pay for cleaning up toxic waste, the activists demanded. (Agencies)

Posted by bhola at 01:06 PM | Comments (0)

Bhopal tragedy: victims' kin to boycott Tata

Press Trust of India, Bhopal, January 3, 2007

Activists working for Bhopal gas tragedy victims on Wednesday threatened to boycott Tata products, accusing the group of offering to "clear the path" of US company Dow Chemicals' investments in the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal.

"We ask people to shun Tata salt. Protests will be staged at every venture of Tata group across the country," the activists threatened at a press conference.

They were critical of the reported efforts of Tata group chairman Ratan Tata as co-chairman of US-India CEO Forum to attract Dow investments in India.

The activists belonging to various groups working for Bhopal gas tragedy victims also announced a national campaign in this regard.

The activists maintained that Dow chemicals took over environmental liabilities of Bhopal when it became the owner of Union Carbide in 2001.

According to 'polluter pays principle', which is valid in the US and India, it should pay for cleaning up toxic waste, the activists demanded.

Posted by bhola at 12:21 PM | Comments (0)