The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has criticised the Ernakulam District Collector for not filing the action taken report on the explosion that claimed two lives and injured several others at a temporary firecracker storage unit at Choorakadu, Thripunithura, on February 12, 2024.
The Southern Bench of the tribunal said in its order dated April 25, 2025, that the report by the District Collector had not been filed yet, despite several opportunities being offered. “As a last chance, let the matter be listed on July 23, 2025,” said the order issued by Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, judicial member, and Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati, expert member.
Responding to the order, Ernakulam District Collector N.S.K. Umesh said on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) that the NGT had ordered the issuance of ₹20 lakh to the deceased and ₹10 lakh to the injured. “As it was a substantial amount, directions were sought from the government. We are yet to receive them,” he added.
The Principal Bench of the tribunal in New Delhi, which took suo motu cognisance of the report on the incident published in The Hindu, later transferred the case to the Southern Bench. It directed the District Collector to ensure the expeditious payment of compensation to family members of the victims and the injured, as per the norms, within a period of eight weeks.
In an order dated August 19, 2024, the Southern Bench had stated that the Collector was yet to file the report and issued a last chance to comply with the direction and file a report.
Mr. Umesh said that a report dated January 25, 2025, was filed before the tribunal stating that the district administration was awaiting further directions from the government on the assessment of damage caused to houses and buildings near the blast site.
The report had said that houses located within a distance of 100 to 150 metres from the explosion site had suffered considerable damage. The site assessment also revealed that vehicles in the nearby houses and surroundings had also sustained damage.
Published – May 01, 2025 01:15 am IST
