NGT Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Bengaluru Cracker Storage Blast

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report concerning an explosion at a cracker storage facility in Bengaluru on October 7, and has included the relevant authorities in the case, such as the Chief Secretary of Karnataka and the Member-Secretary of the State Pollution Control Board.

As per the report, the blast occurred at a shop and storage facility in Attibele, near Bengaluru, while firecrackers were being unloaded from a vehicle. The explosion resulted in the immediate death of 12 individuals, with two more succumbing to their injuries the following day.

A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A Senthil Vel expressed the tribunal’s intention to assess the status of compliance with statutory regulations, the relief provided to the victims, measures for environmental restoration, and precautions to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

The bench has decided to involve the state’s Chief Secretary, the Member-Secretary of the Karnataka Pollution Control Board, and the proprietor of the Balaji cracker shop in the proceedings.

“The counsel representing the state is instructed to disclose the name, address, and details of the Balaji cracker shop owner at the next hearing,” stated the bench, adding, “The counsels for the state PCB and the state of Karnataka are instructed to reveal whether any compensation has been provided to the families of the deceased victims.”

The tribunal has transferred the case to the Southern Bench in Chennai and scheduled it for further proceedings on November 30, 2023.