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Judgment
This original application is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item titled “Three Killed in blast at explosive storage unit in Virudhunagar" appearing in The Hindu dated 01.05.2024.
The news item relates to the death of three persons in a blast at an explosive storage unit in Keezha Uppiligundu near Kariyapatti in Virudhinagara District in Tamil Nadu. As per the article, the three persons were killed while handling high volumes of explosives. The news item states that the impact of the blast was such that the bodies of the deceased were ripped apart and parts of the body were found strewn around some 200 metres away from the explosion site near RSR Blue Metal Quarry. The article alleges that a video footage captured in CCTV camera showed a massive inferno along with huge eruption of soil and stones for over a height of 50 feet. The impact of the blast was felt in several houses in the village. The news item states that the angry villagers had blocked the Madurai- Toothukudi highway complaining about the lackadaisical attitude of the officials in allowing the stone quarry to operate despite several complaints. It alleges that as per the villagers the quarry was damaging their hoses periodically. Every time rock is blasted in the quarry in the afternoons, residents’ houses shake and even the plaster falls off. It further states that few months ago two children were run over by speeding trucks of the stone quarry.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms.
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.
Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:
(1). Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board, through its Member Secretary, No. 76, Mount Salai, Guindy, Chennai – 600032
(2). Central Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi – 110032
(3). District Magistrate, Virudhunagar, First Floor, Collectorate, Sattur Road, Virudhunagar – 626002
Let notice be issued to the above Respondents for filing the response before the concerned Bench of the Tribunal at least one week before the next day hearing.
Since the matter relates to the Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal, therefore, the OA is transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai for appropriate further action. Let the original record of the OA be transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai.
List before the Southern Zonal Bench at Chennai on 12.07.2024.