International conference to discuss Bhopal gas tragedy

The 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy would come up for discussion at a two-day international conference on 'Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Industrial Disasters' being held here from December 5.

Former chief justice of India JS Verma will open the meet at the National Law Institute University (NLIU).

Marc Galanter, centennial professor, department of law, London School of Economics and Political Science and professor Upendra Baxi, former vice-chancellor of Delhi University, will be the guest of honours, NLIU director SS Singh told reporters today.

"This conference will at length discuss the Bhopal gas tragedy, 25 years after the toxic leak from Union Carbide killed and maimed thousands of people," he said.

The seminar will evaluate security, safety and preventive measures at the industrial units across the country in avoiding Bhopal-like disasters and will come out with a 'Bhopal Declaration', he said.

There were over 1,724 major accident-prone industrial units in India which have the potential of creating havoc like Union Carbide if proper safety steps are not taken, conference convenor Prof S Surya Prakash said.