Published December 3, 2002 in the Midland (MI) Daily News

By Beth Medley Bellor

Eighteen years ago today, at five past midnight, gas leaked from a tank of methyl isocyanate at a plant in Bhopal, India, owned and operated by Union Carbide India Limited. About 3,800 people died and more than 2,700 were permanently disabled.

Survivors and supporters continue trying to lay responsibility for remaining contamination at the doorstep of The Dow Chemical Co.

A press release dated Monday claims, “Dow Chemical meets with Bhopal survivors, recommends remediation measures.” The jhadoos, or brooms, which have been used before in requests for Dow to clean up Bhopal made their appearance again.

According to the release, Dow India “accepted contaminated soil, water and brooms from the Bhopal gas-affected survivors and their international supporters on the eve of the 18th anniversary of the Union Carbide disaster. Mr. Anand Vohra, director of finance, Dow India, assured the delegation from the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal that he would personally recommend to ‘higher authorities’ in Dow that remediation measures be undertaken to alleviate the suffering of the gas-affected people.”

Dow’s version of events differs.

John Musser, a Midland-based spokesman, spoke Monday to Dow India. No one there is recommending the company take responsibility for cleaning up the Bhopal site, he said. Even if they did, Musser added, it wouldn’t happen. Dow repeatedly has said the matter was settled in court long ago.

Those in disagreement continue efforts to extradite Union Carbide’s former leader, Warren Anderson. For more on that and other efforts, see http://www.bhopal.net.