Bhopal:
Bhopal gas tragedy killed 20,000 people and scarred many for life. More than 25 year after the disaster, countless victims are still suffering due to neglect and callousness of authorities. Forget compensation, they don't even have access to clean drinking water. Here's a report on the state of the victims who are forced to drink toxic water, risking their lives with each drop:
Suraj is 10 years old, but looks half his age. He can't stand or walk. In fact, even sitting for long is a strain.
He lies all day and tries to communicate through gestures.
"The water here is toxic. That is why this child is in such pain. People here fall ill because they drink this water," said Ram Siya, Suraj's mother.
Just three lanes away, 14-year-old Akshay lives with his family. His mental and physical growth is nowhere near his biological age.
Suraj and Akshay are not isolated cases. In scores of homes in Bhopal, it's the same heart-wrenching story of endless suffering, utter helplessness and an acute sense of despair. These people have no one to go to. Even clean drinking water is a luxury that continues to elude them.
And the culprit - poisoned water they drink every day. In fact studies have shown the water here is toxic enough to lead to cancer and birth defects.
Of the 35,000 people living in the immediate vicinity of the Union Carbide plant, almost 70 per cent live on this dangerous water, consuming the poison daily.
"Our life is spoiled but no one is bothered. Neither the authorities not the ministers," said Leela Bai, a gas leak victim.
In 2006, the Prime Minister sanctioned 14 crore rupees for supply of clean drinking water to the gas victims. The annual report released by the Madhya Pradesh government last year says 531 crore rupees had been spent on rehabilitating the gas victims. Nearly half of the amount came from the Centre. The report also said approximately 384 crore rupees had been spent on medical rehabilitation, the rest on economic, social and environmental rehabilitation. But it seems clean drinking water was never a priority.
"At the end of the day, people are still drinking contaminated water. If it was the rich people of the city, within days the government would've provided clean drinking water," claims Rachna Dhingra, a Bhopal gas tragedy activist.
A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) seven months ago says a three kilometer area around the factory contains pesticides, chemicals and heavy metals that have contaminated the soil and ground water. But despite the overwhelming evidence, governments after government seem to be denying that this water is lethal.
"We are giving safe water to everyone. I am the MLA of the area since 40 years. Had people been unhappy, they wouldn't have elected me," said Babulal Gaur, the Urban Development Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
As the Madhya Pradesh government cries foul over last week's verdict, calling it injustice, the big question is - When will they ensure a basic need of life, clean drinking water, for these victims?
Suraj is 10 years old, but looks half his age. He can't stand or walk. In fact, even sitting for long is a strain.
He lies all day and tries to communicate through gestures.
"The water here is toxic. That is why this child is in such pain. People here fall ill because they drink this water," said Ram Siya, Suraj's mother.
Just three lanes away, 14-year-old Akshay lives with his family. His mental and physical growth is nowhere near his biological age.
Suraj and Akshay are not isolated cases. In scores of homes in Bhopal, it's the same heart-wrenching story of endless suffering, utter helplessness and an acute sense of despair. These people have no one to go to. Even clean drinking water is a luxury that continues to elude them.
And the culprit - poisoned water they drink every day. In fact studies have shown the water here is toxic enough to lead to cancer and birth defects.
Of the 35,000 people living in the immediate vicinity of the Union Carbide plant, almost 70 per cent live on this dangerous water, consuming the poison daily.
"Our life is spoiled but no one is bothered. Neither the authorities not the ministers," said Leela Bai, a gas leak victim.
In 2006, the Prime Minister sanctioned 14 crore rupees for supply of clean drinking water to the gas victims. The annual report released by the Madhya Pradesh government last year says 531 crore rupees had been spent on rehabilitating the gas victims. Nearly half of the amount came from the Centre. The report also said approximately 384 crore rupees had been spent on medical rehabilitation, the rest on economic, social and environmental rehabilitation. But it seems clean drinking water was never a priority.
"At the end of the day, people are still drinking contaminated water. If it was the rich people of the city, within days the government would've provided clean drinking water," claims Rachna Dhingra, a Bhopal gas tragedy activist.
A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) seven months ago says a three kilometer area around the factory contains pesticides, chemicals and heavy metals that have contaminated the soil and ground water. But despite the overwhelming evidence, governments after government seem to be denying that this water is lethal.
"We are giving safe water to everyone. I am the MLA of the area since 40 years. Had people been unhappy, they wouldn't have elected me," said Babulal Gaur, the Urban Development Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
As the Madhya Pradesh government cries foul over last week's verdict, calling it injustice, the big question is - When will they ensure a basic need of life, clean drinking water, for these victims?
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