Bhopal, June 5 (IANS): A group of 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy victims held a rally here on World Environment Day on Friday to highlight the Centre's failure to ensure removal of toxic material lying here under the soil for so many years, threatening many lives.

The protest was staged in the contaminated area near the Union Carbide factory here to express outrage over the central government's laxity for 19 years.

The organisations participating in the protest said the India Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, observed in October, 2012 that water is polluted in 22 areas.

According to the same institute, pollution has increased and will keep on spreading till the toxic material lies under the surface, they added.

Rashida Bi, president of a women group of gas victims, said: "Union Carbide company put the toxic material under the surface of the area located near our houses.

"Why has the Indian government failed to pressurise the Dow Chemical Company-owned Union Carbide Corporation to accept its legal responsibility and remove this toxic material from here?" she asked.

Nawab Khan, the president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha, said: The people, who have been consuming the contaminated water for 20 years, their families are having children born with various disabilities. Till the toxic material is removed, generations here will keep on getting affected."