The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has disposed of a suo motu petition registered on the basis of a news item on the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion of a boiler in a Sonipat factory.
By order dated 20.05.2024, the respondents were impleaded and notices were issued to them.
A reply has been filed by the HSPCB (Haryana State Pollution Control Board) on 03.09.2024 disclosing that the explosion had taken place in the boiler of Industry, Piau Maniyari, Narela Road, Kundli, Sonipat and it is also disclosed that due to sudden explosion in pressure vessels of 02 TPH boiler installed in the factory, the accident took place. The industry falls in the ‘orange’ category and was having Consent to Operate dated 11.01.2023 upto 31.03.2027.
On inspection on 29.07.2024, the unit was found lying in abandoned condition. The report reflects that 6 persons present in the unit at the time of accident had died and they have been awarded compensation by the owner of the industrial unit.
The Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr. A. Senthil Vel noted that except for the Legal Representatives (LRs) of one deceased, all others have been paid Rs 20 lakh as compensation. No justification has come forward for awarding lesser compensation of Rs 18,20,210 to the living relatives of deceased Gulabi Kurmi.
The Bench is of the view that LRs of all the deceased need to be treated equally unless there is a justifiable reason to differentiate. Hence, the Bench directed that the compensation payable to the LR of deceased Gulabi Kurmi be enhanced to Rs 20 lakh.
The report further reflects that 11 persons had received minor injuries and they were discharged after first aid. Since the substantial compensation has already been awarded to the LRs of the deceased victims and in respect of the LRs of one of the deceased victims getting lesser compensation, the requisite direction, as above, has already been issued, hence the petition is disposed of accordingly by the NGT.
Further, the Bench directed that the District Magistrate will ensure that a differential amount of enhanced compensation is paid to the LRs of the deceased within 2 months by the owner of the unit.