Green tribunal issues notice to CPCB over Jaipur ‘gas leak’

The National Green Tribunal has sought response from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Jaipur’s district magistrate in a matter related to several students getting hospitalised after a suspected gas leak in the Rajasthan capital.

The green body was hearing a matter where it had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report regarding 10 students of a coaching institute in the Mahesh Nagar area getting hospitalised after fainting because of a suspected leak from a nearby drain on December 15.

In an order dated December 24, a bench of NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel said, “News item does not disclose that any compensation has been paid to the victims of gas leak. It raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the provisions of the Public Liability Insurance Act and Environment (Protection) Act.”

The tribunal impleaded as respondents the member secretaries of CPCB, Rajasthan SPCB, Jaipur’s district magistrate and the regional office of the Forest Ministry.