National Green Tribunal Criticizes Ernakulam District Collector for Not Filing Explosion Report
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has criticized 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 in Choorakadu, Thripunithura, on February 12, 2024.
In its order dated April 25, 2025, the Southern Bench of the tribunal said the report by the District Collector had not been filed yet, despite several opportunities. As a last chance, the matter was listed for July 23, 2025, as per the order issued by Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati.
Ernakulam District Collector N.S.K. Umesh responded to the order on April 30, 2025, stating 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. He added that they were yet to receive them.
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 said that houses located within a distance of 100 to 150 meters from the explosion site had suffered considerable damage. The site assessment also revealed that vehicles in the nearby houses and surroundings had sustained damage.
Published – May 01, 2025 01:15 am IST
Reference : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/ngt-slams-collector-for-not-filing-action-taken-report-on-thripunitura-explosion/article69510171.ece
