The National Green Tribunal has sought replies from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others regarding an explosion in an illegal cracker factory in Punjab village last month which left five dead and 29 injured.
The green body had taken a suo motu note of a news report on the May 30 incident at an unauthorised cracker unit in Singhewala village in the state’s Muktsar district.
In an order dated June 5, a bench of judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said, “According to the news item, it is alleged that the factory operator managed to buy a huge volume of explosives and other material used in producing firecrackers without permission, and that even after 10 hours of the explosion, the smell of potash emanated from the debris.”
The bench said that the incident attracted provisions of the Public Liability Insurance Act, the Environment (Protection) Act, Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act and Explosives Rules.
The tribunal impleaded as parties or respondents the CPCB, Punjab State Pollution Control Board, Chandigarh regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner concerned.
“Let notice be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply,” the tribunal said, posting the hearing on August 4.
