News Item Titled "8 Killed in Explosion at Fireworks Factory Near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu" Appearing in Ndtv.Com Dated 09.05.2024 and News Item Titled "10 Workers Includimg Six Women Die in Sivakasi Fireworks Unit Blast" Appearing in the Hindu Dated 10.05.2024 vs

NGT10 May 2024Original Application No. 559/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The NGT Principal Bench registered this matter suo motu following news reports of an explosion killing 10 workers in a firecracker factory in Tamil Nadu. The Tribunal impleaded pollution boards and district officials as respondents for investigation and notice, transferring the matter to the Southern Zonal Bench for further action.

What did the court decide?

Recs ordered to ptransferred to Southern Zonal Bench; Respondents listed for I subsequent hearing on 12.07.2024.

News Item Titled "8 Killed in Explosion at Fireworks… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2024)

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Item No.16

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Court No. 1

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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Original Application No. 559/2024

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News item titled "8 killed In Explosion At Fireworks Factory Near Sivakasi In Tamil Nadu" appearing in NDTV.com dated 09.05.2024 and others

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Date of hearing: 10.05.2024

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON HON’BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER

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ORDER

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This original application is registered suo moto on the basis of the news item titled “8 killed In Explosion At Fireworks Factory Near Sivakasi In Tamil Nadu" appearing in NDTV.com dated 09.05.2024 and others Date of hearing: 10.05.2024”.

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News item relates to an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing factory near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, resulting in the death of 10 persons including 6 women workers. As per the article, Friction during handling of chemicals is suspected to have triggered the explosion at Sri Sudharshan Fireworks in Virudhunagar district. The article asserts that 100 workers were working in the unit when the blast occurred.

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The article alleges that the cause behind such explosions is blatant sale violations, including deploying many workers with no training and kowledge of the chemicals they deal with and the right way to them. It states that 99 per cent of the explosions at the factories happen due to human error.

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The article further highlights that wrong handling of chemicals during mixing of explosives violate norms. While only half a kilo of

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explosives can be handled at a time, often up to 60 kg of explosives are given to groups ahead of Diwali season to meet deadlines.

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The matter above seems to involve handling of Hazardous Substance, thus violating the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It also seems to violate NGT's order in OA No. 44/2021 where the Hon'ble Tribunal directed the state of Tamil Nadu to pay compensation to victims of a blast that occurred in the Virudhunagar firecracker factory.

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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 .

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Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:

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(i) Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board, Through its Member Secretary No. 76, Mount Salai, Guindy, Chennai600032;

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(ii) Central Pollution Control Board, Through its Member Secretary Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi-110032;

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(iii) District Magistrate, Virudhanagr, First Floor, Collectorate, Sattur Road, Virudhanagr-626002;

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(iv) Department of Industrial Safety and Health Tamil Nadu, Through its DirectorT.S.No.47/1, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032.

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Let Notice be issued to Respondents for filing the response atleast one week before the next date of hearing before the Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal.

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News item does not disclose if any compensation has been paid to the family members of the deceased victims of explosion. Hence, respondent nos. 1 and 3 are directed to disclose in their report the status of payment of compensation. Let report be filed at least one week before the next date of hearing before the Southern Zonal Bench.

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Since the matter relates to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai, therefore, OA is transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench for appropriate further action. Office is directed to transfer the original record of the OA to Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai.

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List before Southern Zonal Bench at Chennai on 12.07.2024.

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Prakash Shrivastava, CP

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Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM

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May 10, 2024 Original Application No. 559/2024 JG.

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News Item Titled "8 Killed in Explosion at Fireworks Factory Near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu" Appearing in Ndtv.Com Dated 09.05.2024 and News Item Titled "10 Workers Includimg Six Women Die in Sivakasi Fireworks Unit Blast" Appearing in the Hindu Dated 10.05.2024 vs

Case brief

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What did the court decide?

News Item Titled "8 Killed in Explosion at Fireworks Factory Near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu" Appearing in Ndtv.Com Dated 09.05.2024 and News Item Titled "10 Workers Includimg Six Women Die in Sivakasi Fireworks Unit Blast" Appearing in the Hindu Dated 10.05.2024 vs

Case brief

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What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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