‘Study on chemical industry impact on coast needed’

The people of the country should wake up and ensure that the Bhopal gas tragedy does not repeat, warned Satinath Sarangi of Bhopal Group for Information and Action (BGIA).

“The Bhopal gas tragedy has taught us lessons on corporate crimes in the country,” he added.

The activist was addressing students on the topic, ‘Chemical Industries and Citizens Vulnerability: Bhopal Experiences and the Lessons’.

The lecture was organised by the Social Work Department of St Aloysius College in association with the Karavali Karnataka Janabhivriddhi Vedike at St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, on Saturday.

'Huge blow'

“Although Union Carbide operates in the US, the design and precautionary measures taken by the company in the US were hugely different from those taken in India. The decision of the company to reduce expenditure was a huge blow to the people of Bhopal. Thus, the tragedy was not accidental – instead, it was a corporate crime,” said Sarangi.

“It is, however, the poor, who end up becoming prey to corporate crime. The government neither supports nor extends a helping hand to them,” he expressed disappointment.

“Chemical industries necessarily make an impact on the water bodies and Nature which is fragile. The government should, therefore, conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of chemical industries on the ecology of Mangaluru,” he stressed.

Food security

“The green revolution ushered in many changes in the food security scenario of the country. The excessive use of chemical fertilisers to boost food production has had its impact on Nature. The compound chemicals after World War II were used more for production of fertilisers and insecticides,” he explained.

Sarangi urged the students’ community to question elected representatives and ensure that Mangaluru does not turn into another Bhopal.

During interaction with the students too, Sarangi repeated that the water bodies in and around the city could be polluted by chemicals and that there is a need to conduct a scientific study on the same.

St Aloysius College Principal Rev Fr Parveen Martis presided over the programme.