National Green Tribunal
News Item Titled "Six Killed In ... vs Ankita Sinha &Ors." Reported In 202 on 16 October, 2024
Item No.08 Court No. 1
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No. 1238/2024
News Item titled "Six killed in accidental blast in Birbhum coal mine"
appearing in The Hindu dated 08.10.2024
Date of hearing: 16.10.2024
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR TYAGI, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER
Applicant: None
Respondent: None
ORDER
1. This original application is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item titled Six killed in accidental blast in Birbhum coal mine"
appearing in The Hindu dated 08.10.2024.
2. The news item relates to a blast at a coal mine in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, resulting in the deaths of six individuals and several others getting injured. As per the news item the incident took place around 1 PM during the loading of explosives for mining operations.
3. The news item highlights that the explosion occurred when explosives kept in a truck went off at Gangaramchak and Gangaramchak- Bhadulia coal mine in Khoyrasole block under Lokpur police station of Birbhum district. The news item asserted that the coal mine has been allotted to West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL), a power utility operated by the State government. The coal mine was reopened in April 2019.
4. The news item states that the blast reportedly caused significant 1 damage to the mine site and surrounding areas, raising concerns about safety protocols and the handling of explosives in such operations. Furthermore, it is asserted that the blast occurred in the dump yard of the captive coal mine. The vehicle carrying the explosive was badly mangled in the blast and there were reports of bodies of the workers being badly severed.
5. The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of provisions of Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
6. The power of the Tribunal to take up the matter suo-motu 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.
7. Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:
1. West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), Through its Member Secretary: Paribesh Bhawan, 10A, Block-LA, Sector-
III, Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700106, West Bengal, India;
2. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Through its Member Secretary: Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi-110032, India;
3. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF), West Bengal Kendriya Bhawan, 3rd Floor, Block-A, Alipore, Kolkata - 700027, West Bengal, India;
4. District Magistrate (DM), Birbhum:
Office of the District Magistrate & Collector, Birbhum, PO+PS:
Suri, Birbhum, West Bengal, India - 731101 2
8. Let notice be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the Eastern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal at Kolkata at least one week before the next date of hearing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through his advocate then the said respondent will remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal.
9. Since the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the Eastern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal, therefore, the OA is transferred to the Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata for appropriate further action. Let the original record of the OA be transferred to the Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata.
10. List before the Eastern Zonal Bench at Kolkata on 03.12.2024.
Prakash Shrivastava, CP Arun Kumar Tyagi, JM Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM October 16, 2024 Original Application No. 1238/2024 JG..
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