New Delhi:
The Union Cabinet has accepted the report of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the Bhopal gas disaster, a day ahead than originally planned.
The report recommended enhanced compensation to the victims under a Rs 1,500 crore package.
It also recommended pursuing liability issue with Dow Chemicals and Rs 300 crore for clean-up of the site and pursuing the then Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson's extradition. He has ignored a series of court summons to stand trial in India.
(In Pics: Who is Warren Anderson)The GoM, headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram, assigned to study the different dimensions of the Bhopal tragedy and the aftermath of a court verdict delivered earlier this month finalised its recommendations for the Prime Minister on Monday.
(Watch: Chidambaram on Bhopal report)In 1989, the government accepted a settlement from Carbide that allowed 500 dollars for each person who died. To make up for that, the GoM suggested Rs 10 lakh as compensation for every person who died - on record, the toll is 15,000 so far. Those permanently disabled by the gas leak at the Union Carbide plant in 1984 get Rs five lakh. However, any compensation already paid, will be deducted, and no new claims will be considered. The Centre will fund this compensation.
The GoM has also recommended filing of a curative petition in the Supreme Court against dilution of charges against the accused.
The GoM was set up earlier this month after a Bhopal court delivered a verdict that shocked India: Two years in prison for seven Indians who were Carbide executives at the time of the tragedy. They were granted bail immediately. (
Read: Two years in prison for eight convicted in Bhopal gas tragedy)