At a meeting of the Bhopal Environmental Remediation Oversight Committee 27th September 2010 in New Delhi, the chairman Mr. Jairam Ramesh agreed with the survivors’ organizations that there was a need for a fresh study for a comprehensive assessment of the depth, spread and nature of contaminants in and around the abandoned Union Carbide factory in Bhopal.
The organizations expressed satisfaction with the fact the peer review group set up by Mr. Jairam Ramesh concurred with the survivors organizations with regard to the poor quality of study carried out by NEERI, NGRI & IICT.
Following a directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2008, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) & Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) carried out studies to assess the amount of chemicals and heavy metals in the soil and ground water in and around the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. Reports of these studies were presented at the Group of Ministers meeting in June 2010. The Group of Ministers on Bhopal set up the Bhopal Environment Remediation Oversight Committee which invited comments on the NEERI, NGRI & IICT from 46 individuals and organizations including Indian Institute of Technologies, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Professional associations and Non Governmental organizations including Bhopal survivors’ organizations.
Of the 31 reviews received by the Remediation Oversight Committee, 21 found fault with the way NEERI, NGRI and IICT had carried out the site assessment and advised that fresh studies should be carried out for a comprehensive assessment of the depth, spread and nature of contamination in and around the factory premises. Among others, four experts from Ireland, England, Germany and Australia, who presented their critique at the request of the survivors’ organizations found the reports of NEERI, NGRI to be based on inadequate sampling and insufficient coverage of the contaminated areas.
To download the Beyond Bhopal Coalition Critique of the NEERI and NGRI reports written on behalf of the survivor organisations