ted case studies_bhopal disaster

8/11/2019 TED Case Studies_Bhopal Disaster

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Ma)h'a Pra)esh+ to /or&late pesti%i)es.

Bhopal *as %hose# as the site /or the Car(i)e pla#t (e%a&se o/

it7s %e#tral lo%atio# i# I#)ia+ a rail*a' s'ste that spa##e) the

%otr'+ a lar$e la6e *hi%h pro"i)e) a relia(le so&r%e o/ *ater+

a#) s&//i%ie#t ele%tri%it' a#) la(or to s&stai# a lar$e s%ale

i#)&strial pla#t. The MIC /a%ilit' *as lo%ate) i# the e4isti#$Car(i)e pla#t to the #orth o/ the %it'+ a),a%e#t to a# e4isti#$

resi)e#tial #ei$h(orhoo) a#) (arel' t*o 6iloeters /ro the

rail*a' statio#. U#io# Car(i)e %lais that the 0s&atter

settlee#ts0 aro) the pla#t arri"e) o#l' a/ter it )i).

Ho*e"er+ 0all three o/ the *orst1a//e%te) %oities i# the

)isaster appare#tl' e4iste) (e/ore the U#io# Car(i)e pla#t

ope#e)0 -eir+ p.3?+ a

)a#$ero&s %hei%al rea%tio# o%%&rre) i# the U#io# Car(i)e

/a%tor' *he# a lar$e aot o/ *ater $ot i#to the MIC stora$e

ta#6 @

i#to the air+ sprea)i#$ *ithi# ei$ht 6iloeters )o*#*i#)+ o"er

the %it' o/ #earl' ==+===. Tho&sa#)s o/ people *ere 6ille)

estiates ra#$i#$ as hi$h as ?+===5 i# their sleep or as the'

/le) i# terror+ a#) h)re)s o/ tho&sa#)s reai# i#,&re) or

a//e%te) estiates ra#$e as hi$h as ?==+===5 to this )a'. The

ost serio&sl' a//e%te) areas *ere the )e#sel' pop&late) sha#t'

to*#s ie)iatel' s&rro)i#$ the pla#t 11 a'apra6ash Na$ar+

a8i Cap+ Chola e#%hi+ a#) the Rail*a' Colo#'. The "i%tis

*ere alost e#tirel' the poorest e(ers o/ the pop&latio#.

This poiso#o&s $as+ %a&se) )eath a#) le/t the s&r"i"ors *ith

li#$eri#$ )isa(ilit' a#) )iseases. Not &%h is 6#o*# a(o&t the

/&t&re e)i%al )aa$e o/ MIC+ (&t a%%or)i#$ to a# i#ter#atio#al

e)i%al %oissio#+ the "i%tis s&//er /ro serio&s health

pro(les that are (ei#$ is)ia$#ose) or i$#ore) (' lo%al )o%tors

La#%et+ 0Ro)...05.

E4pos&re to MIC has res&lte) i# )aa$e to the e'es a#) l$s a#)

has %a&se) respirator' aile#ts s&%h as %hro#i% (ro#%hitis a#)

eph'sea+ $astroi#testi#al pro(les li6e h'pera%i)it' a#)

%hro#i% $astritis+ ophthali% pro(les li6e %hro#i%

%o#,%ti"itis a#) earl' %atara%ts+ "isio# pro(les+ #e&rolo$i%al

)isor)ers s&%h as eor' a#) otor s6ills+ ps'%hiatri% pro(les


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pla#t *ere *ar#e) o/ pote#tial ha8ar)s i# a series o/ lo%al

#e*spaper arti%les+ (&t resi)e#ts i$#ore) these *ar#i#$s (e%a&se

the' )i) #ot 6#o* ho* to rea%t to the+ *hile lo%al o//i%ials

)isisse) the as se#satio#alist reporti#$ Te%h#olo$' Re"ie*+

p.935.

I#teresti#$l' e#o&$h+ Car(i)e trie) to hi)e its poor sa/et' a#)ai#te#a#%e re%or) alo#$ *ith the other /a&lts alrea)' e#tio#e)+

(' %laii#$ p&(li%l' that the %opa#' *as the "i%ti o/ sa(ota$e

(' a 7)is$rtle) eplo'ee7. et+ Car(i)e )i)#7t release the

#ae o/ this eplo'ee or (ri#$ %har$es a$ai#st hiFher. Ho*e"er+

there is e"i)e#%e to the %o#trar' *hi%h s&pports the "ie* that

Car(i)e (oth the pare#t %opa#' a#) its I#)ia# s&(si)iar'5 *as

a #e$li$e#t %opa#' that /aile) to ipro"e its )eteriorati#$

pla#t. I#%i)e#tall'+ i# a report Ma' !>25 o/ the I#)ia#

s&(si)iar' %o#)&%te) (' a three1e(er sa/et' tea /ro the U#io#

Car(i)e hea)&arters i# the U.S.+ i#)i%ate) that 0a serio&s

pote#tial /or si8ea(le releases o/ to4i% aterials i# the MIC

it either )&e to e&ipe#t /ail&re+ operati#$ pro(les+ or

ai#te#a#%e pro(les th&s re&iri#$ "ario&s %ha#$es to re)&%e the)a#$er o/ the pla#t there is #o e"i)e#%e the re%oe#)atio#s

*ere e"er iplee#te)0 -eir+ pp.?=1?!5.

&rtherore+ 0Car(i)e persiste#tl' sho*s 7*a#to# a#) *il/&l

)isre$ar) /or the health a#) sa/et' o/ its *or6ers a#) the

%oities i# *hi%h it operates70Ne* Statesa# a#) So%iet'+

0S&r"i"i#$...0 p.5. A))itio#all'+ a s%ie#ti/i% report p&(lishe)

(' t*o U.S. or$a#i8atio#s+ the Natio#al To4i% Capai$# a#) the

i#ter#atio#al Co%il o# P&(li% A//airs+ U#io# Car(i)e %o#ti#&es

to (e 0 7a a,or )is%har$er o/ to4i% s&(sta#%es i#to the

e#"iro#e#t+ a#) a a,or $e#erator o/ ha8ar)o&s *aste7. I# !>>+

the %opa#' $e#erate) ore tha# 3== illio# po)s o/ ha8ar)o&s

*aste 1 a# i#%rease o/ 9= illio# %opare) *ith !>90 Ne*

Statesa# a#) So%iet'+ 0S&r"i"i#$...0 p.5.

Car(i)e ha) )roppe) the sa/et' sta#)ar)s at the Bhopal pla#t *ell

(elo* those it ai#tai#e) at a #earl' i)e#ti%al /a%ilit' i# -est

Gir$i#ia. It is also iporta#t to #ote here that Car(i)e *as

a(le to operate its )eteriorati#$ pla#t (e%a&se i#)&strial

sa/et' a#) e#"iro#e#tal la*s a#) re$&latio#s *ere la%6i#$ or

*ere #ot stri%tl' e#/or%e) (' the state o/ Ma)h'a Pra)esh or the

I#)ia# $o"er#e#t a6i#$ the i#)ire%tl' respo#si(le /or the

tra$e)' at Bhopal.

3. RELATED CASES

VEAL%ase

EUMEAT%ase

ECFURBAN%ase

BASEL%ase

CHERNOB%ase

BASMEX%ase

e'*or) Cl&sters

!5: Ipa%t INDIA

25: Bio1$eo$raph' TROPi%al

35: E#"iro#e#tal Pro(le HEALTH

?. DRAT AUTHOR: Tr&pti Patel
http://www1.american.edu/ted/VEAL.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/EUMEAT.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/CIGAR.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/BASEL.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/CHERNOB.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/BASMEX.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/VEAL.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/EUMEAT.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/CIGAR.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/BASEL.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/CHERNOB.HTMhttp://www1.american.edu/ted/BASMEX.HTM


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B. LE;AL CLUSTER

. DISCOURSE AND STATUS: DISa$reee#t a#) COMPlete

This )isaster $a"e rise to the *orl)7s lar$est la*s&it+ o#e that

spa##e) hal/1*a' aro) the *orl) a#) )ra$$e) o# /or ore tha#

se"e# 'ears. Altho&$h the /i#al settlee#t ?9= illio#5satis/ie) the iperati"es o/ the %opa#' a#) the ;o"er#e#t o/

I#)ia+ it *as %o#)e#e) (' the "i%tis Cassels+ pre/a%e5.

or 'ears a/ter the tra$e)'+ the )ela' i# )eli"eri#$ /i#al

%ope#satio# to the "i%tis has /&rther propa$ate) the s&//eri#$

to the "i%tis. &rtherore+ other elee#ts o/ relie/ or)ere) ('

the I#)ia# S&pree Co&rt ha"e#7t (ee# iplee#te). These are the

e)i%al s&r"eilla#%e pro$ra+ the %o#ti#$e#%' i#s&ra#%e a#) the

#e* hospital. There has (ee# &%h )isse#t a#) se"eral

or$a#i8atio#s ha"e "oi%e) that the settlee#t *ith U#io#

Car(i)e+ a)e o# (ehal/ o/ the "i%tis (' the I#)ia# $o"er#e#t+

sho&l) (e "oi)e). These petitio#ers ar$&e that the I#)ia# %o&rt

ha) #o a&thorit' to )isiss %rii#al %har$es or $ra#t iit'a$ai#st /&t&re %har$es+ to U#io# Car(i)e si#%e pleas (ar$ai#i#$

is #ot peritte) )er I#)ia# la*.

The petitio#ers also ar$&e) that *hile the settlee#t aot *as

(ase) o# a# estiate) ?=+=== se"erel' i#,&re) "i%tis+ e)i%al

st&)ies s&$$est the #&(er a' (e %loser to ?==+=== or(es+ 0The

$host...0 p.!=>5. Also+ a#' e)i%al e4perts (elie"e that

lia(ilit' to pro"i)e a)e&ate %ope#satio# a#) /a%ilities /or the

ha#)i%appe) "i%tis re&iri#$ lo#$1ter /ollo* &p a#) treate#t

sho&l) rest *ith U#io# Car(i)e Corporatio# a#) #ot *ith the

I#)ia# ;o"er#e#t La#%et+ 0Ro)...0 p.25. Moreo"er+ ore

tha# 2=+=== %lais *ere #e"er )o%&e#te) or %lassi/ie)+ a6i#$

it har) /or these "i%tis to o(tai# %ope#satio#. M&%h to the

a#$er a#) o&tra$e o/ these $ro&ps a#) "i%tis a#) the relie/ o/

U#io# Car(i)e+ o# O%to(er !!+ the I#)ia# S&pree Co&rt &phel)

the Bhopal settlee#t o/ ?9= illio# )ollars. Ma#' /eel that

this is a %lear si$#al /ro the I#)ia# $o"er#e#t that MNC7s

i#"esti#$ i# the %otr' *ill re%ei"e o#l' a 0slap o# the *rist0

i# the e"e#t that soethi#$ li6e this happe#s a$ai#.


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S&(raa#ia+ pp. >!1>25.

La*s&its *ere /ile) i# (oth U.S. a#) I#)ia# %o&rts (&t

&ltiatel'+ it *as )e%i)e) that the %ase sho&l) (e trie) i# a#

I#)ia# %o&rt. La*s&its /ile) i# U.S. %o&rts relate) to the

Bhopal %ase *ere re/&se) o# the $ro)s that the ie)iate

lo%atio# o/ the a%%i)e#t *as i# I#)ia+ the "i%tis *ere I#)ia#+a#) he U.S. %o##e%tio# *ith its I#)ia# a//iliate )i) #ot appear

to $i"e it a# &s&al )e$ree o/ %o#trol.

9. DECISION BREADTH: 2

>. LE;AL STANDIN;: LA-

ollo*i#$ the )isaster+ the ;o"er#e#t o/ I#)ia passe) the Bhopal

;as Lea6 Disaster Pro%essi#$ o/ Clais5 A%t+ !>. The A%t $a"e

po*er to the Ce#tral ;o"er#e#t to represe#t all %laia#ts i#

appropriate /or&s+ appoi#t a -el/are Coissio#er a#) other

sta// a#) to )is%har$e )&ties %o##e%te) *ith heari#$ o/ the

%lais a#) )istri(&tio# o/ %ope#satio#. U#)er this A%t+ i#!>+ the ;o"er#e#t /or&late) a s%hee 6#o*# as the Bhopal ;as

Lea6 Disaster S%hee+ /or the re$istratio#+ pro%essi#$+ a#)

)eteri#atio# o/ %ope#satio# to ea%h %lai a#) appeals arisi#$

/ro thereo#.

Si#%e the tra$e)'+ the "i%tis ha"e *a$e) a# 0re&ite) str&$$le

/or ,&sti%e+ (&t the' ha"e (ee# ill1ser"e) (' the I#)ia#

$o"er#e#t+ *hi%h /aile) to p&rs&e the "i%tis7 %ase a$$ressi"el'

i# the I#)ia# %o&rts+ opti#$ i#stea) to $o eas' o# U#io# Car(i)e

a#) ai#tai# a /a"ora(le i#"este#t %liate0 Ne* Statesa# a#)

So%iet'+ 0To4i#...0 p.!>5. U#io# Car(i)e settle) o&t o/ %o&rt /or

?9= illio#+ th&s a"oi)i#$ a#' )aa$i#$ le$al pre%e)e#t or

lia(ilit'. I# ret&r#+ I#)ia7s S&pree Co&rt or)ere) the )isissal

o/ all %i"il a#) %rii#al %har$es a$ai#st Car(i)e a#) its

o//i%ers+ a#) $a"e the iit' /ro /&t&re prose%&tio#. The

S&pree Co&rt /elt that i# this %ase+ the "i%tis #ee)e)

ie)iate relie/+ #ot /&rther le$al )ela'.

I#ter#atio#al La* at prese#t pla's alost #o role i# a Bhopal

s%e#ario. S&(sta#ti"e i#ter#atio#al la* reai#s *ea6 i# the area

o/ poll&tio#+ i#)&strial ha8ar)s+ a#) &lti#atio#al (&si#ess

re$&latio# -eir+ p.?


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!2. TPE O MEASURE: Re$&lator' Sta#)ar) JRE;STDK

-ith re$ar) to pro%ess sta#)ar)s+ it is appare#t that U#io#

Car(i)e ha) )o&(le sta#)ar)s *he# operati#$ its pla#t i# I#)ia

a#) i# -est Gir$i#ia. A# i#"esti$atio# o/ (oth the UCIL pla#t

a#) its %oterpart i# I#stit&te+ -est Gir$i#ia re"eale) that

0*hile the latter pla#t ha) %op&teri8e) *ar#i#$ a#) o#itori#$s'ste+ the /orer relie) o# a#&al $a&$es a#) the h&a# se#ses

to )ete%t $as lea6s. The %apa%it' o/ the stora$e ta#6s+ $as

s%r&((ers+ a#) /lare to*er *as $reater at the I#stit&te pla#t.

i#all'+ eer$e#%' e"a%&atio# pla#s *ere i# pla%e i# I#stit&te+

(&t #o#e4iste#t i# Bhopal0 Cassel+ p.!5. Also+ the a##er i#

*hi%h Car(i)e )e%i)e) to a#&/a%t&re MIC *as &estio#e) at the

)esi$# sta$e *he# a %o#tro"ers' arose re$ar)i#$ the &estio# o/

*hether s&(sta#tial stora$e %apa%it' or #oi#al stora$e o/ MIC

*o&l) (e re&ire). UCC+ *hi%h pro"i)e) the (asi% )esi$# o/ the

pla#t+ s&per"ise) its e#$i#eeri#$+ a#) )e/i#e) operati#$

pro%e)&res to r it+ i#siste) o# the /orer J)espite the /a%t

thatK UCIL /elt that the latter *as...i#here#tl' sa/er Moreho&se

a#) S&(raa#ia+ p.35.

!3. DIRECT OR INDIRECT: DIRECT

!?. RELATION O MEASURE TO IMPACT

a. DIRECTL RELATED: es CHEMi%al

(. INDIRECTL RELATED: No

%. NOT RELATED: No

). PROCESS RELATED: es Health

!. TRADE PRODUCTION IDENTIICATION: CHEMi%al

!9+ the o//i%ial )eath toll stoo)

at a(o&t 3+== a#) (' !2+ it *as o"er ?+===. Gi%tis7

or$a#i8atio#s pla%e) the /i$&re a#' tho&sa#)s hi$her. I#

a))itio#+ 3=+=== to ?=+=== people *ere aie) a#) serio&sl'

i#,&re)+ a#) 2==+=== *ere other*ise a//e%te) thro&$h i#or

i#,&r'+ )eath o/ a /ail' e(er+ a#) e%o#oi% a#) so%ial

)islo%atio# Cassels+ p.5.

!9. IMPACT O TRADE RESTRICTION: LO-

!>. INDUSTR SECTOR: CHEMi%al

!. EPORTER AND IMPORTER: USA a#) INDIA

D. ENGIRONMENT CLUSTERS

2=. ENGIRONMENTAL PROBLEM TPE: Poll&tio# Air JPOLAK

Not "er' &%h is 6#o*# a(o&t the e#"iro#e#tal ipa%ts o/ the $as

lea6 /ro the Bhopal pla#t. The I#)ia# Co%il o/ A$ri%&lt&ral

Resear%h has iss&e) a prelii#ar' report o# )aa$e to %rops+

"e$eta(les+ a#ials+ a#) /ish /ro the a%%i)e#ts+ (&t these o//er


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/e* %o#%l&si"e /i#)i#$s si#%e the' *ere reporte) i# the earl'

sta$es a/ter the )isaster. This report ho*e"er+ )i) i#)i%ate that

the ipa%t o/ *hate"er to4i% s&(sta#%es eer$e) /ro the Car(i)e

pla#t *ere hi$hl' lethal o# e4pose) a#ials. Lar$e #&(er o/

%attle estiates ra#$e as hi$h as ?+===5+ as *ell as )o$s+ %ats+

a#) (ir)s *ere 6ille). Pla#t li/e *as also se"erel' )aa$e) ('

e4pos&re to the $as. There *as also *i)esprea) )e/oliatio# o/trees+ espe%iall' i# lo* l'i#$ areas Moreho&se a#) S&(raa#ia+

pp.35.

2!. SPECIES INORMATION

SPECIES: Hoosapie#s

;ENERA: NA

DIGERSIT: NA

22. IMPACT AND EECT: HI;H a#) PROD&%t

23. UR;ENC AND LIETIME: LO- a#) 9= 'ears

2?. SUBSTITUTES:: Bio)e$ra)a(le pro)&%ts JBIOD;K

E. OTHER ACTORS

2. CULTURE: NO

There appear to (e ha"e (ee# serio&s %oi%atio# pro(les a#)

a#a$ee#t $aps (et*ee# U#io# Car(i)e a#) its I#)ia# operatio#.

This /ail&re to %oi%ate ha8ar)s *as the res&lt o/ the pare#t7

%opa#ies ha#)s1o// approa%h to its o"erseas operatio#+ a#) %a#

(e tra%e) to %ross1%&lt&ral (arriers. These %a# possi(l' (e

relate) to 0)isr&ptio#s a#) /la*s *hi%h appear i# &lti#atio#al

operatio#s (e%a&se o/ 0the a(se#%e o/ %oo# "al&es+ #ors+ a#)

e4pe%tatio#s ao#$ a#a$ers i# )i//ere#t #atio#s+ /ro te#)e#%ies

to*ar)s eth#o%e#tri% attit&)es+ /ro ps'%holo$i%al ipe)ie#ts to

%ross1%&lt&ral )ersta#)i#$+ a#) /ro o(str&%tio#s a#)

)e/i%ie#%ies i# the /lo* o/ i#/oratio# *ithi# the tra#s#atio#al

s'ste attri(&ta(le to )ista#%e a#) share) o*#ership. The /a%t

that the operati#$ a#&als at Bhopal *ere pri#te) o#l' i# E#$lish

is a# e(leati% e4aple o/ these pro(les Cassels+ p.2!5.

2


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2>. RELEGANT LITERATURE:

0A/ter Bhopal0. La#%et+ Iss&e + Iss&e >.

Heari#$ Be/ore the S&(%oittee i# Asia# a#) Pa%i/i% A//airs o/

the Coittee o# orei$# A//airs Ho&se o/ Represe#tati"es.

Ni#et'1Ei$ht Co#$ress+ Se%o#) Sessio#. De%e(er !2+ !>?.

asa#o//+ Sheila. Lear#i#$ ro Disaster: Ris6 Ma#a$ee#t A/ter

Bhopal. U#i"ersit' o/ Pe##s'l"a#ia Press+ Phila)elphia. !?.

hera+ S.S. The Esta(lishe#t O/ The Hea"' Ele%tri%al Pla#t At

Bhopal. Coittee o/ Case St&)ies. The I#)ia# I#stit&te o/

P&(li% A)i#istratio#+ Ne* Delhi. !


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ted case studies_bhopal disaster

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