NEWS ITEM TITLED "PUNE: 6 DEAD IN FIRE AT CANDLE MAKING UNIT" APPEARING IN 09.12.2023 DATED MILLENIUM POST. vs

1 Item No.

01 Court No.

1 BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI Original Application No.

792/2023 In re: News item appearing in Millennium Post dated 09.12.2023 titled “Pune: 6 dead in fire at candle making unit” Date of hearing: 15.01.2024 CORAM: HON’BLE MR.

JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON HON’BLE DR.

A.

SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER Respondent: Mr.

Mukesh Verma, Adv. for MPCB Ms.

Swati Pandit, Adv. with Mr.

Jadhav, Tahsildar (Through VC) Mr.

Shivshankar Swaminathan, Adv. with Mr.

Jambhale, Additional Commissioner, PCMC (Through VC) P ORDER 1.

This original application is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item titled “Pune: 6 dead in fire at candle making unit” appearing in Millennium Post dated 09.12.2023.

As per the news report atleast 6 persons have died and 10 sustained injuries after fire broke out at a sparkling candle manufacturing unit in Pimpri Chinchwad area of Pune district.

The report discloses that the factory manufactures sparkling candles which are generally used for birthday celebrations.

2.

Nothing is reflected in the report in respect of payment of any compensation to the victims as also compliance of environmental norms by the unit.

3.

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.

4.

Learned counsel appearing for District Magistrate, Pune has informed that in the said incident 14 persons have died and one was 2 injured.

She has also informed that action has been taken against the unit and that a sum of Rs.

5,00,000/- has been sanctioned for payment to the family members of each deceased victim and that family members of five such deceased victim have been paid the compensation amount.

She has also informed that a sum of Rs.

2,50,000/- is to be paid to the injured and the payment is in process.

5. rocess.

5.

In the circumstances of the case, we implead following as respondents in this OA:- (1).

Member Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (2).

District Magistrate, Pune (3).

Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Pimpri Chinchwad 6.

The respondents are directed to file their response indicating, if the unit was operating with necessary environmental clearance, the action which has been taken against the unit for violating the environmental norms and details of the payment to the family members of the deceased victims as also to the injured victim.

The concerned authorities are directed to re-examine if the compensation amount being paid is adequate.

Let the report be filed before the concerned bench of the tribunal within a period of four weeks.

Since the matter relates to the Western Zone Bench, Pune, the OA is transferred to the Western Zone Bench, Pune, for further appropriate action.

7.

List on 14.02.2024 before Western Zone Bench, Pune.

Prakash Shrivastava, CP Dr.

Senthil Vel, EM January 15, 2024 Original Application No.

792/2023 AS.