Vizag Gas Leak: SC refuses to interfere with NGT order directing LG Polymers to deposit Rs 50 cr

Tribune News Service
New Delhi May 19

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to interfere with the National Green Tribunal’s order directing LG Polymers to deposit Rs 50 crore and setting up a committee to look into the May 7 gas leak at the South Korean MNC’s Vishakhapatnam plant that claimed 11 lives and left dozens injured.

A Bench headed by Justice UU Lalit said the company can raise its grievances before the NGT on June 1 and posted the matter for further hearing on June 8.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the industrial accident, a Bench headed by Chairman Justice AK Goel had directed the company to deposit Rs 50 crore with Vishakhapatnam District Magistrate.

It had also set up a five-member committee, headed by former Andhra Pradesh High Court Judge B Seshasayana Reddy, to inquire into the accident.

On behalf of the company, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi told the top court that the company had already deposited the money.

He, however, questioned setting up of several committees by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Central Government to look into the gas leakage accident.

Rohatgi wondered if the NGT could take suo motu cognisance of the matter, particularly when the high court was already seized of the matter.

But the top court asked him to raise all these issues before the NGT on June 1 and listed the matter for hearing on June 8.