In a first-of-its-kind corporate move, Tata group chairman Ratan Tata has volunteered his services to the UPA government for “remediation” of the Bhopal gas tragedy site to pave the way for Dow Chemicals, now the majority stakeholder of Union Carbide Ltd, to invest in India.

Tata’s initiative comes after Dow Chemicals President and CEO Andrew N Liveris expressed his apprehension in making large-scale investments in India after the Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers filed an application in a PIL in a district court suggesting that the $46-billion chemical giant should contribute Rs 100 crore ($22 million) for remediation of the site.

At the India-US CEO forum meeting in New York last October, Liveris pointed out that the liability, if any, is of Union Carbide, which still exists as a separate company, and no liability rests with Dow as it was not in the picture when the disaster took place 22 years ago. Dow purchased Union Carbide Ltd in 1999.

While Dow has made it clear that it would be willing to contribute voluntarily to the remediation of the site as part of the Indian CEOs’ corporate effort, it wants the government to clarify that it does not hold Dow legally responsible for the liabilities of Union Carbide.

Writing to the MEA on November 8, Liveris, who is a member of Indo-US CEO forum, said that it was not possible for Dow to invest in India unless the issue was cleared. The Dow CEO said that it wants to work with the local industry CEOs, Madhya Pradesh Government and New Delhi to expedite the remediation efforts.

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