Anderson must be extradited screamed the headlines of most major dailies reflecting our concern with symbolism instead of reality. Thousands of people have been permanently maimed or incapacitated because of the negligence of a private company, weak law of torts, negligent regulator and successive governments that have ignored environmental legislation in search of industrial development. Anderson is but a figurehead and his extradition and subsequent incarceration will only be symbolic and will change nothing. On the contrary his extradition and trial may actually put back Government action on industrial pollution control since the immediate problem would have been solved.
Governments culpability in the Bhopal disaster is of the same magnitude as that of the Head of Union Carbide India at that time. We must have a mechanism to ensure that exemplary punishment is given to the Government Officials who were charged with the duty of ensuring that our factories operate safely. They should share the same cell that we build for Anderson.
Capping of nuclear liability falls in the same category. The question the Government has to answer is whether nuclear technology suppliers could claim a capping of liability if they were to set up a plant in the US. If the secondary infrastructure in India is inadequate in comparison to the US and consequently risks to Nuclear plants are higher then the Government is much better off creating that secondary infrastructure and ensuring that plants are safe. In a competitive business environment any capping of liabilities could result in reduction of safety measures to meet price points in international tenders. Post Dhabol we can have no faith in our Government being able to negotiate a project in the best interests of the country.
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