CPI(M) today expressed concern over compensation not being paid to victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy that struck on this day 25 years ago, killing about 20,000 and leaving a devastating effect on about 5.7 lakh people.
Party member Sitaram Yechury, who raised the issue in the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha noted with anguish the "criminal negligence" in delay in payment of compensation to the victims.
Yechury, who was supported by almost the entire House, said that toxic waste is still lying around Union Carbide plant affecting water and soil around the five-sq-km area.
He described it as an "act of neglect towards environment cleaning".
The CPI(M) leader also said safety of workers was not being paid adequate attention, and expressed shock at the "criminal neglect" to the issue.
"As many as 127 workers lost their lives in 11 places at 10 sites in last one year. Not a single person has been punished," he rued. He also felt that the proposed amendment in the labour laws will make workers more vulnerable.
On the issue of the Nuclear Liability Bill, a key requirement of the India-US nuclear civil cooperation deal, CPI(M) showed concern over the safety of workers at nuclear installations.
Yechury said the compensation ceiling of USD450 million (Rs2,000 crore) as provided in the Bill was "exceedingly low". Besides, the liability rests with the operator.
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