The NGT in the central zone has responded to the firecracker factory explosion in Harda district, issuing notices to authorities and mandating compensation deposits from factory owners. By emphasizing interim relief and initiating a high-level investigation committee, the NGT demonstrates its commitment to environmental safety and accountability.
Bhopal: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), central zone, took suo motu cognizance of the explosion at a firecrackers’ factory in Harda District. It issued notices to various authorities including the factory owners, the secretary of the environment in Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Controller of the petroleum and explosive safety organization in Bhopal, the municipal council in Harda, the District Magistrate of Harda, and the inspector general of the zone. They are asked to submit a reply in the matter.
The NGT mandated the factory owners to deposit Rs 15 lakh for each death and Rs 5 lakh for grievous injuries to provide interim compensation to victims. It emphasized that while providing owners with an audi alterm partem (right to be heard) of hearing is necessary, ensuring a minimum interim relief for affected individuals is imperative.
The interim relief is supplementary to the compensation or ex-gratia announced by the Government. The Tribunal stipulated that the factory owners must deposit the amount within 10 days. It empowered the District Collector to employ coercive methods for recovery if the deposit was not voluntarily deposited. However, it emphasized that the interim relief should be disbursed within a month, even if it requires utilizing state funds prior to recovering from the factory owners.
The NGT directed the Chief Secretary to establish a high-level committee to investigate the incidents based on specified points in its order. These points, outlined by the Tribunal comprising judicial members Sheo Kumar Singh and Dr. Afroz Ahmad, encompass the total number of deaths, the total number of injuries, the circumstances permitting the industry to operate in a residential area, and the responsibility of permitting the storage of explosive materials.
Furthermore, the NGT seeks clarification on how explosive materials were allowed to be stored in nearby houses and the response of monitoring agencies that failed to supervise the quantity of explosives and ensure proper storage precautions. The Tribunal also demands a report on the Government agencies’ failure to ensure safe storage of explosives and other specific points for the investigation.
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