The National Green Tribunal has taken suo motu cognizance of a news article highlighting the incident which occurred at a pharmaceutical company in Hyderabad, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to three others while they were repairing a reactor.
The original application is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item dated November 21, 2024.
The Principal Bench comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Dr A Senthil Vel has observed that the news item does not indicate any steps taken for payment of compensation to the victims of the accident.
In a similar case of gas leak, the Tribunal had awarded compensation to the family members of the victims, holding that the heirs of the deceased are entitled to compensation of at least Rs 20 lakh in respect of each death and Rs 10 lakhs to each of those who fell sick, based on the principles of restitution laid down in Sarla Verma (2009) 6 SCC 121 and Uphaar (2011) 14 SCC 481.
The Tribunal has also considered the victims of the boiler explosion in the respondent Proponent unit, who are entitled to receive compensation in terms of the order of the Tribunal dated June 11, 2021.
The Tribunal had awarded compensation to the extent of Rs 20 lakh in such incidents, with varying amounts for persons with different levels of burns or injuries.
The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactments, including the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The Tribunal has impleaded the Telangana State Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and District Magistrate, Hyderabad as respondents in the matter.
The Tribunal has directed the respondents to file their response/reply before the Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing.
The original application has been transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai, and listed before the same on February 5, 2025.
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