Twenty-six years after the world’s worst industrial disaster killed nearly 20,000 people, the UPA government has re-constituted a group of ministers (GoM) to discuss a range of issues concerning the Bhopal gas tragedy.

The decision comes after a Bhopal court convicted former chairman of Union Carbide, Keshub Mahindra, and seven others implicated in the case, on June 7, 2010. They were sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment only.

There was no mention of 89-year-old Warren Anderson, the then chairman of Union Carbide Corporation of USA, in the judgement delivered by Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohan P Tiwari.

All the accused successfully applied for bail immediately after the sentence was announced.

The reconstitution of the GoM was decided after the court verdict came under sharp criticism from opposition parties and the public.
 
Home Minister P Chidambaram will head the GoM, earlier led by Arjun Singh, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh when the tragedy took place in 1984. Other members of the panel are Ghulam Nabi Azad, M Veerappa Moily, S Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath, Selja, MK Alagiri, Prithviraj Chavan and Jairam Ramesh. Madhya Pradesh minister in-charge of rehabilitation will be a permanent invitee.

The GoM, which is expected to meet for the first time on June 18, 2010, will examine all issues relating to the Bhopal gas leakage, including remedial measures, and make appropriate recommendations relating to the relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the tragedy and their families.