Bhopal: Organisations campaigning for justice in the case of December 1984 Union Carbide disaster on November 22 presented new evidence that throws light on corporate liability for toxic contamination of ground water and soil in Bhopal.

The evidence consists of internal documents of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) that are now publicly available following a discovery motion in the class action suit filed by seven individuals and five plaintiff organisations from Bhopal.

Champa Devi Shukla, secretary of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationary Karmachari Sangh, told a press conference in Bhopal that these documents show that despite being aware of the danger and despite further damage being done to communities already suffering from effects of its poisonous gases, the company issued no warnings and took no action to stop contamination.

Worse yet, it continued to insist publicly that local drinking wells were safe. "Meanwhile, Union Carbide was making strenuous behind-the-scenes efforts to rid itself of responsibility for the site," Champa Devi, who hails from one of the communities affected by ground water contamination, alleged.

Last week, plaintiff organisations presented documents that revealed that Union Carbide and its ex-CEO Warren Anderson had imposed "unproven technology" in the most dangerous part of the plant in order to cut costs and maintain absolute control of their Indian subsidiary.

PTI