2 March, 2011. MUMBAI — Dow Chemical has been struck off the list of partners to the Aquatech 2011 water technologies trade fair currently being held in Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, after Bhopal survivors held a press conference yesterday and staged a protest today at the venue. Nearly 70 survivors staged a die-in outside the Exhibition Hall inside the Bombay Exhibition Centre, where Dow was listed to have an exhibition stall. Speaking for the organisers, Commander Dalal of Inter Ads-Brooks Exhibitions said "We had a discussion with Dow on this, and Dow is no longer part of this trade fair. They are not here today, and they will not be here tomorrow or the day after." Mr. Dalal also expressed his solidarity with the Bhopal survivors.

 

Separately, Mr. Kishor Shetty, the manager of Sales and Marketing, at Inter Ads also confirmed over phone that "the moment we came to know, we dissociated ourselves. Dow Chemical voluntarily withdrew." Mr. Shetty can be reached at  +(91) 981 004 2500. The event managed by Inter-ads is sponsored by the Ministry of Urban Development in collaboration with a number of partners, including Dow Chemical.

 

Ms. Marta Lopez Garcia of Dow Chemical, Spain, who was listed as a speaker at the Conference tomorrow will not be allowed to speak.

 

Bhopal survivors have welcomed the move by the organisers, but have said that they intend to take up the matter with the Union Government. "We will get to the bottom of the matter about how the Ministry of Urban Development has partnered with Dow Chemical to promote the company's water solutions even while Dow is wanted in Bhopal to clean up the soil and groundwater," said Rashida Bee of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh.

 

No arrests were made as the Police too expressed solidarity with the Bhopal survivors.