The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of the boiler explosion at Gaj Kesari Steel Mill on 24.08.2024.
The petition is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item dated 24.08.2024.
The news item reveals that as many as 22 workers have been injured and three are critical in a boiler explosion in a steel factory in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Jalna city.
The news item further reveals that the factory manufactures steel bars from scrap.
The news item does not reveal any decision to pay compensation to the injured victims. It was also required to ascertain if the unit was complying with the environmental norms and the cause of the boiler explosion.
The Tribunal in the earlier orders has considered the issue of payment of compensation to the victims of boiler explosion.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
The above issue attracts the Tribunal the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. Hence, the Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr. A. Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
1) Member Secretary, Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB).
2) Collector & District Magistrate, Jalna, Maharashtra.
3) Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Jalna, Maharashtra.
4) Gaj Kesari Steel Mill, through its Administrative Head.
The Bench issued notice to the Respondents.
Since the matter relates to the Western Zonal Bench, Pune, therefore, the Bench transferred the matter to the Western Zonal Bench for appropriate further action. Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Western Zonal Bench and the matter is listed on 15.10.2024.