images | factory remains

The Union Carbide plant itself has remained a site of contention and, some contend, contamination in the years since the disaster.  While Dow and Carbide maintain that the site has been cleaned up - for example all of the remaining MIC at the site was neutralized quickly after the disaster (albeit by starting pesticide production again temporarily) - as some of the pictures below demonstrate, "clean" is a relative term (see Greenpeace's report on the "Bhopal Stockpiles."

Union Carbide transferred the site to the custody of the Indian government as part of their contentious and sucessful effor to rid themselves of assets in India.  However, both medical and scientific reports indicate that some form of chemical contamination, likely originating at the factory site, has been contaminating the only source of drinking water for up to 16 local communities.   

a photograph of the city and the factory before the disaster.

contemporary view of the factory from a local neighborhood. Photo by Maude Dorr

contemporary view into the MIC unit. Photo by Maude Dorr

the abandoned production unit.  Photo by Maude Dorr

abandoned bags of material in storerooms on the factory property. Photo by Maude Dorr.

abandoned barrels at the factory site.  Photo by Maude Dorr.