NGT seeks response from pollution regulators, collector on fertiliser plant blast in Sangli

Pune: National Green Tribunal's principal bench in Delhi has directed Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Union ministry of forests and environment, and Sangli district collector to file responses on the gas leak blast at a fertiliser plant in Maharashtra.The tribunal took cognisance of a TOI report published on Nov 23, titled "3 dead nine hospitalised after gas leak blast at fertiliser plant in Maharashtra", which highlighted that due to gas leak, 12 people were affected and rushed to nearby hospitals, where three people succumbed to the exposure.The gas leak took place at Myanmar Chemical Company in Shalgaon MIDC in Sangli, where explosion of a reactor at the plant led to release of chemical fumes, believed to be ammonia. The incident occurred at 6.30 pm, during which three people, including two women, were killed and nine others hospitalised from the blast.Taking note that the news item does not reflect if compensation was paid to the victims, the bench of chairperson Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A. Senthil Vel said, "The news item does not reflect that any compensation has been paid to the victims of the gas leak. The above news item attracts provisions of Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986."The tribunal also took note of a similar case of a gas leak in Gujarat where compensation was awarded to the family members of victims, where the heirs of the deceased were given compensation of Rs 20 lakh."The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with environmental norms and implementation of provisions of scheduled enactment," added the tribunal.Following this, the tribunal impleaded MPCB, CPCB, ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MOEFCC), and the district magistrate of Sangli to file their response before one week of next hearing date.The matter has been transferred to western zonal bench where it will be heard on Feb 2, 2025.Pune: National Green Tribunal's principal bench in Delhi has directed Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Union ministry of forests and environment, and Sangli district collector to file responses on the gas leak blast at a fertiliser plant in Maharashtra.The tribunal took cognisance of a TOI report published on Nov 23, titled "3 dead nine hospitalised after gas leak blast at fertiliser plant in Maharashtra", which highlighted that due to gas leak, 12 people were affected and rushed to nearby hospitals, where three people succumbed to the exposure.The gas leak took place at Myanmar Chemical Company in Shalgaon MIDC in Sangli, where explosion of a reactor at the plant led to release of chemical fumes, believed to be ammonia. The incident occurred at 6.30 pm, during which three people, including two women, were killed and nine others hospitalised from the blast.Taking note that the news item does not reflect if compensation was paid to the victims, the bench of chairperson Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A. Senthil Vel said, "The news item does not reflect that any compensation has been paid to the victims of the gas leak. The above news item attracts provisions of Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986."The tribunal also took note of a similar case of a gas leak in Gujarat where compensation was awarded to the family members of victims, where the heirs of the deceased were given compensation of Rs 20 lakh."The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with environmental norms and implementation of provisions of scheduled enactment," added the tribunal.Following this, the tribunal impleaded MPCB, CPCB, ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MOEFCC), and the district magistrate of Sangli to file their response before one week of next hearing date.The matter has been transferred to western zonal bench where it will be heard on Feb 2, 2025.
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