I read this in my history books(its still there in school history books even today).. about 'The bhopal gas tragedy'.. where a gas leak from an Union Carbide factory (oil refinery if i remember correct) caused a blast in one of the huge circular containers killing enough people on the spot.
But what was not there in the history book is this:
Generally the gas tanks are equipped with safety precautions, but union carbide had removed or not maintained the safety equipment to lower costs further to make more profits.
Union carbide abandoned its infrastructure after the blast and absconded from the scene when they realized what blunder has happened.
Due to the gas leaks that followed thereafter, every year, in the area, 1000's of people have been dying or critically deceased or handicapped in strange ways.
Today, official estimates are at some 20,000.. for the number of people dead due to the aftermath... and many researches have openly expressed serious concern on the toxic levels of water in the area which the indian government has easily ignored forever due to fear of taking a costly responsibility to clean up the mess left by some company.
People in india have been voicing their views regularly on these issues, but there been occassions where the indian government or the corporate big-shot TATA consultancy services, have been trying to indirectly help the current owner of the union carbide industries, 'Dow industries', in silently escaping from the liability. While TATA is doing it for the sake of a huge project this cleanup process means as Dow is willing to payup enough, the government is doing it for attracting huge investment in India(read a % of it in bribes to the ruling government).
This monday(29th oct 07), there is a public meeting being organized by ICJB (International campaign for justice in bhopal).. to condole the aftermath reactions that companies and indian government is showing to the issue, and to highlight the issue's serious persistence even today.
If you live in Chennai, and by any accident reading my blog, feel free to attend this meeting. Usually they require only participants or audience.. not that they will make you go on the streets and shout slogans with them (if you would not like that way of protesting).
Here's a document on the meeting, its agenda and venue in chennai.