REMEMBERING A DISASTER: Gas tragedy survivors paying homage at the "Bhopal Memorial" in front of the abandoned Union Carbide factory in Bhopal on Sunday. — Photo: A.M.Faruqui

BHOPAL: The victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster on Sunday observed the 22nd anniversary of the worst industrial catastrophe, demanding clean drinking water, better rehabilitation and comprehensive medical treatment.

The protesters burnt effigies of Union Carbide and its former chairman, Warren Anderson, in front of the abandoned pesticide plant here.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and prominent citizens attended an all-religion prayer meeting in the morning to pay homage to those killed in the gas disaster.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for striking a balance when it came to setting up industries and protecting the environment. In a message, he said the survivors were continuously falling sick and suffering from many diseases. Even 22 years, lakhs of people were suffering from various mental and physical disorders and agonies.

Industrial safety

Mr. Chauhan said the State Government was making concerted efforts for treatment of the affected.

A number of works relating to industrial safety, protection of environment and economic rehabilitation of the affected people had been carried out. Supply of clean drinking water in many colonies continued to remain a challenge, but the Government was providing financial help to solve the problem.

The Chief Minister called upon the Government, non-government organisations and citizens to help in mitigating the sufferings of the affected people.

Groups of people, representing activist groups and political parties, gathered in front of the Carbide plant on Sunday morning. They shouted slogans demanding that those responsible for poisoning and killing thousands and critically affecting hundreds of thousand others be punished.

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