This refers to T N Ninan’s “How they don’t deal with it” (June 19). Let’s consider how other nations handle industrial accident liability.
As ambassador to Germany, I visited in late 1992 the massive BASF chemical complex at Ludwigshafen. Occupying some 5 sq km area, it encompasses over 300 individual plants and processes. I was told that some of them produced substances even more toxic than the methyl isocyanate gas that caused the Bhopal disaster.
The discussion turned to the Bhopal tragedy and I was told that under German law, differentiated and graduated responsibility is assigned for varying kinds of industrial accidents, covering different levels of the management hierarchy. This enables the plant operators to take out liability insurance for each level. They were familiar with the Indian law, which evidently holds the top management responsible in all situations, thus they suggested that their method be considered in India.
I reported this to New Delhi, but received no substantive response as happens, alas, all too often. Is this not an idea that Indian industry should pursue?
Kishan S Rana, New Delhi
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