NGT seeks response from Environment Ministry on Hyderabad pharma unit blast
New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Hyderabad regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and others to respond to the blast at a pharmaceutical company in Hyderabad last month.
The green body was hearing a matter where it had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a report published by PTI on November 21 titled 'One dead, three injured in reactor blast at pharma company in Hyderabad.'
In an order dated November 28, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "The news item relates to a flash fire triggered by a reactor blast at a pharmaceutical company in Hyderabad, resulting in the death of one man and injuries caused to three others. As per the article, the incident occurred while the four workers were repairing the reactor."
The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said the news item did not indicate whether steps had been taken for payment of compensation to the victims.
The tribunal underlined that in its earlier verdicts, it had directed payment of compensation to the victims of similar boiler explosions.
"The above news item indicates a violation of the provisions of the Public Liability Insurance Act and the Environment (Protection) Act," the tribunal said.
Read also: Punjab: Tribunal Slaps Rs 5 Crore Interim Fine on Pharma Unit for Violations
It impleaded as parties or respondents the MoEFCCs regional office in Hyderabad, the member secretaries of the CPCB and Telangana State Pollution Control Board and the district magistrate concerned, PTI reported.
"Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply before the southern zonal bench (in Chennai)," the tribunal said.
The matter has been posted on February 5 for further proceedings
Read also: Toxic fumes in a pharma company result in death of 1, 2 more critical
