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More Bhopal gas victims receive compensation dues

      Bhopal: There is an air of relief across Bhopal as the victims of the world's worst industrial disaster have started receiving their dues after prolonged court battles and a 20 year- long wait. The compensation amounting to 15.67 billion rupees will be disbursed amongst nearly 105,000 victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy. In December 1984, tonnes of toxic gas leaked from US-based Union Carbide's plant in Bhopal, killing thousands of people and injuring tens of thousands. In 1989, Union Carbide, now owned by Dow Chemical Co., paid $470 million in compensation to victims but only some of that amount was distributed due to legal and bureaucratic tangles over categorisation and the genuineness of claims.

      At the time of the settlement with Union Carbide, it was estimated around 3000 people had died and 102,000 were ill as a result of the deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaking into the air. But, the Supreme Court in July accepted the latest government figures that around 15,000 had died over the years and over 550,000 victims were eligible for compensation due to exposure- related illnesses. The court directed the Centre to make up for the shortfall and use up the interest accrued on the money deposited by Union Carbide, which alone amounts to 15.03 billion rupees. Hundreds of victims queued up at the Sub Divisional Magistrate's office to collect their cheques. Deepak Verma, Welfare Commissioner for the Bhopal gas victims, said they plan to complete the distribution work as per the court's time frame. "As per the court's directive we have to distribute the money by 30th April 2005. And, our effort would be to complete it as per the order," said Verma.

Pawar warns dissatisfied NCP ministers (Go To Top)

      Mumbai: In the wake of some National Congress Party (NCP) ministers expressing dissatisfaction over allocation of portfolios, party president Sharad Pawar today warned them to "either remain or leave". Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a military school at suburban Andheri, he said, "There is no dissatisfaction among the NCP ministers over the allocation of portfolios, but if anyone is not happy then they are free to leave". The NCP president hastened to add there was no unhappiness among the NCP ministers over the allocation of portfolios in the Mahrashtra government. Former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal had expressed dissatisfaction after getting the PWD ministry while he had sought Rural Development portfolio. Apparently, another former Deputy Chief Minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil too was reportedly unhappy.

Bihar doctors' strike has health services in a tizzy (Go To Top)

      Patna: Health services were adversely affected in Bihar today, following an indefinite strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against the killing of an eminent surgeon Dr N.K. Agrawal. According to the IMA president Vijay Shankar Singh, as many as 20,000 private and government doctors stayed away from work on third-day of the strike. "Health services, medical colleges and hospitals in Darbhanga, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur were also crippled with doctors abstaining from work," he said, ruling out the possibilities of calling off the strike till the criminals involved in the killing of Agarwal were arrested. Singh also demanded the release of another surgeon, Dr Nagendra Prasad, who was kidnapped by a gang in Samastipur last month. On Sunday, IMA had turned down the request of Chief Minister Rabri Devi to withdraw the agitation and petitioned Governor Buta Sngh to intervene for the early arrest of the killers and release of Nagendra Prasad.

Atmosphere right for continuing Indo-Pak talks: Natwar Singh (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh has said that the atmosphere for continuing the Indo-Pak peace process is conducive, and added that he is looking forward to Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's three-day visit to India from November 23. He said that though New Delhi would give its "best shot", for the forthcoming talks, he expected everyone to see the practicality of the situation and expect a rational outcome rather than any "miracle" taking place. "It is continuing from the last 57 years. So there would be no miracle. We are trying our best. We are looking in terms of realism and we are giving it our best shot," he was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the Indo-ASEAN car rally that hit the Indian capital on Monday. He, however, refuted suggestions that New Delhi has received any formal "formula" from Islamabad for solving the Kashmir dispute. "No, we have not received any formula as such. Maybe, Aziz will bring it with him," he added.

India's 25 m dollar stadium gift to Guyana (Go To Top)

      Mumbai: India has announced that it extend a grant of 25 million US dollars to the Government of Guyana to build a 20,000-seat stadium for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. According to the Daily Times, the financial package includes a six million dollar grant and a 19 million dollar loan to be repaid over 20 years at an annual interest rate of 1.7 percent. Quoting Avinash Gupta, India's ambassador to Guyana, the paper said that the project would be undertaken from next year and would be completed by 2006. Guyana is to host six preliminary matches of the World Cup.

Ganguly to appeal against suspension (Go To Top)

     Kolkata: Captain Sourav Ganguly is going to personally appeal the ICC's decision to serve a two-match suspension on him. The BCCI, has said that once it gets an official notice from the ICC on Sourav Ganguly's suspension, it will assist Ganguly in his appeal. ICC match referee Clive Lloyd found Ganguly guilty for slow over rate in the Platinum Jubilee one-day international against Pakistan on Saturday. Describing the Indian skipper's suspension as "harsh", the BCCI also said any decision to replace Ganguly for the Test series against South Africa would be taken only after the outcome of the appeal is known. "We have not received any official word from the ICC. Whatever has come to us is through media but there is no official communication. We will appeal against the decision as soon as the official letter from ICC comes to us," BCCI President Ranbir Singh Mahendra told reporters here on Monday. The letter from ICC was expected any time, he said adding the appeal would be based on the content of the ICC letter. Mahendra said the BCCI would raise the incidents which caused the delay in its appeal. "These points will include Salman Butt's injury, his asking for runner, dew factor and wet outfield and also change of balls which took more time than it does usually."