What steps can be taken to prevent such disasters?
To prevent industrial disasters like Bhopal, several important steps must be taken. First, industrial plants must be properly designed with all essential safety features, including computerised early warning systems. The plant should be maintained at the requisite level of efficiency with all instruments in working order.
Second, emergency evacuation procedures must be worked out in coordination with local communities. Adequate staffing with trained engineers and operators is essential to monitor all tasks effectively.
Third, warnings and safety reports must be taken seriously by authorities. Environmental clearances should only be granted after thorough safety assessments. Guidelines for siting hazardous plants must be strictly followed, and safety records should be properly examined before granting permissions.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the context which outlines the failures that led to the Bhopal disaster: under-designed plant lacking safety features, absence of computerised warning systems, no evacuation procedures with local community, poor maintenance, inadequate staffing, ignored warnings from experts and employees' union, and casual approach by government authorities in granting clearances. The preventive steps are the opposite of these failures.