 to investigate and transferred the matter to the Western Bench. ){kind=link}
The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of a boiler explosion in a steel factory in Jalna, Maharashtra on August 24 this year, that killed 7 workers and injured 22 others.
It has directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to investigate and transferred the matter to the Western Bench.
The MPCB granted consent to establish the factory on February 16, 2018, and environmental clearance was obtained on June 1, 2018. However, the factory experienced a sudden blast in the melting furnace, resulting in the deaths and injuries.
The NGT directed the MPCB to issue directions for voluntary closure under the Water and Air Pollution Acts. After verifying compliance, the MPCB allowed the factory to restart operations on September 14, 2024.
The Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) has been impleaded as respondent No. 5 in the case.
The Western Bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr. Vijay Kulkarni have allowed four weeks for DISH to file a reply affidavit.
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation and steel factory have also been granted four weeks to file their reply affidavits.
The next hearing is scheduled for December 19, 2024.