The National Green Tribunal in Delhi.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has upheld the decision of a nine-member committee on compensation for 20 people who fell ill and next of kin of six people who died after a gas leak in an industrial area in Surat last January.
The leakage happened from a tanker belonging to Hikal Limited from Maharashtra, which was carrying toxic chemicals that were being unscientifically disposed into a drain to avoid the cost of scientific disposal, the NGT order said.
In January last year, the NGT took suo moto cognisance of the issue and constituted the panel тАФ head by former┬аChief Justice of Delhi High Court┬аJustice B.C. Patel тАФ to visit the site, interact with stakeholders and give a report to the┬аtribunal.
The order said that the principal question for consideration is whether the report of the committee is to┬аbe accepted. тАЬWe do not find any objection to the said report being┬аaccepted particularly when the main violators have not even chosen to question it,тАЭ the NGT order read.
тАЬIn the present case, laid┬аdown norms have been breached by the entities in question.┬аThus, Hikal, Sangam and other┬аunits, including Transporter have violated the norms,тАЭ it added.
The tribunal said that the committee has тАЬrightly recommendedтАЭ the compensation. тАЬThe heirs of the deceased are entitled to compensation at least тВ╣20 lakh in respect of each death and тВ╣10 lakh to each of those who┬аfell sick,тАЭ the tribunal said.
The NGT said that all pending proceedings should be finalised speedily, preferably┬аwithin six months.
