The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of a news item regarding a toxic gas leak at a textile factory in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which resulted in the death of two workers and hospitalized seven others.
The incident occurred while spent acid was being transferred into a tank at a textile factory in the Narol industrial area.
The NGT registered the matter as an original application and issued notices to the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the District Magistrate of Ahmedabad.
The Tribunal directed the respondents to file their responses/replies by way of affidavit before the Western Zonal Bench at Pune.
The Principal Bench, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Arun Kumar Tyagi, and Expert Member Dr A Senthil Vel observed that the news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactments.
The Tribunal relied on its earlier order in a similar case of gas leak, where it had awarded compensation to the family members of the victims.
The matter has been transferred to the Western Zonal Bench at Pune for further action and listed for hearing on December 20, 2024.