Dow once again washes hands of Bhopal disaster
23 Jun 2010
Dow Chemical Company, which bought Union Carbide Corp (UCC) in 1999, said on Monday the Indian government had "fully released" UCC and its subsidiary in Bhopal from any civil liability for the 1984 gas tragedy.
"In 1989, the Government of India - acting on behalf of the victims by virtue of an Act of Parliament - negotiated a $470 million settlement and fully released UCC and Union Carbide India Ltd from any civil liability for the gas tragedy," Dow Chemical Company spokesman Scot Wheeler, said.
Replying to a questionnaire, he said the Dow Chemical Company never owned nor inherited the facility in Bhopal.
"When Dow acquired the shares of Union Carbide Corporation, UCC had long ago ceased conducting business in India and had sold its interest in Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL)," Wheeler said.
He asserted that the UCC remains a separate company and entity with a separate board, separate financial reporting and its own employees. "Union Carbide India Ltd, the company that owned and operated the Bhopal plant, is a viable corporation that still exists to this day and had been renamed Eveready Industries India Ltd. Dow has never been connected to this company," Wheeler explained.
"The fact is that Dow never owned, operated nor inherited the facility in Bhopal and efforts to attach Dow are inappropriate and misdirected," he said.