Fatal fire: NGT orders panel to finalise compensation

Ludhiana: Taking suo motu cognisance of a fire incident in a factory in which three workers were killed and two received burns, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a joint committee comprising members from various departments to finalise compensation to be paid to the victims and injured. Besides the district magistrate, the joint committee will have officials from Central Pollution Control Board and Punjab Pollution Control Board (which will act as a nodal agency). It will have to submit a report in two months.
To discuss the case in detail, the committee is likely to meet on Monday.
The NGT has ordered that the joint committee members may ascertain whether and how much compensation has been paid to the victims and make recommendations on the pattern of earlier orders. Further, it may be ascertained whether the unit in question was limited to dry process to determine whether exemption from consent is applicable or not, the order said. A report may be filed within two months. The next date of hearing has been fixed for July 13.
On March 14, fire broke out at a unit near Lakkar bridge. While trying to control the blaze, fire officials came to know about the death of a worker. Four others were taken out in injured condition. While two were declared dead, other two were admitted in the hospital. The FIR was registered against the owner of the unit on the statement of fire station officer Maninder Singh who said that the factory did not have adequate fire arrangements in the unit.
The NGT in its orders has mentioned that compensation can be assessed on a reasonable basis guided by restitution principle at least at floor level, leaving other remedies for the victims open. “Thus, broadly agreeing with the committee, we direct that the scale of compensation should be Rs 20 lakhs in respect of each of the deceased victims and Rs 15 lakh to persons who have burns in excess of 50% and Rs 10 lakhs for persons who have burns from 25 to 50% and Rs 5 lakh for persons who have injuries between 5 to 25%. Victims who were treated as outpatients and who had but minor degree of burns or other forms of simple injuries shall be paid Rs 2 lakh.”
Prima facie, on the same pattern compensation has to be paid to heirs of the deceased without prejudice to higher claim being raised at any other forum. In absence of information about the extent of injuries to the two injured, compensation is liable to be paid at least at the rate of Rs 10 lakhs to each of the injured. Thus, compensation of Rs 80 lakhs is payable by the project proponent. However, NGT has not passed final order without notice to the project proponent (PP) and further enquiry.
Punjab State Legal Services Authority has also been requested to provide necessary legal aid to the victims of the incident.