NEW DELHI: This isn't Champa Devi Shukla's first visit to the Capital and she knows that in her long drawn out battle for justice this wouldn't be her last trip either. Gathered here at India Gate on Friday to mark the 21st anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy were survivors and global environmental group Greenpeace activists to hold a protest rally and candlelight vigil against what they called the callous attitude of the Government. And among them was the vice-president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karamchari Sangh, Champa Devi Shukla.

Demanding "better living conditions" for the survivors of the tragedy, Greenpeace official Namrata Chowdhary said it was sad that despite about 20,000 people living near the site of the Union Carbide plant, they do not have access to clean drinking water even today. "We want the Government to initiate a clean-up of industrial waste and make it safe for the people living here. Also, survivors should be adequately compensation. We want to remind the Government that similar disasters are waiting to happen across the country because of the presence of industrial wastes in the environment,'' she also added.

Environmental activists also want Dow Chemical Company, which took over Union Carbide in 2001, to clean up the site, which they say contains thousands of tonnes of toxic chemicals. Dow, however, maintains that all liabilities were met when Union Carbide paid a 470-million-dollar settlement.

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