ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

SC asks Centre to explain delay in releasing Bhopal compensation

The Supreme Court today directed the Union government to file an affidavit within two weeks explaining why it has not released Rs270 million sanctioned for implementation of the first action plan to improve the two hospitals meant to treat victims of the Bhopal gas leak disaster.

The court also directed the government to explain in the same affidavit the steps it has taken in respect of the second action plan submitted by the Madhya Pradesh government, suggesting ways to improve the working of the two hospitals.

The directions were issued by a division bench comprising Justice G T Nanavati and Justice S P Kurdukar on a public-interest petition by the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sanghatan (Gas Affected Women's Industrial Organisation) pending before the court for a long time now.

The court further directed the state government to appoint an official of the rank of secretary to supervise the medical relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the disaster.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report