The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken quick action after a tragic incident at a pharmaceutical factory in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. Four workers lost their lives, and two others were injured in a nitrogen gas leak at Medley Pharmaceuticals Ltd., located in the Boisar Industrial Estate. The NGT’s bench, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, started investigating the case on its own—without waiting for a formal complaint—after seeing a media report about the accident. The report stated that the gas leak happened between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., during working hours, inside a nitrogen reaction tank at the plant. According to details, the leak occurred while 36 workers were on duty, raising serious concerns about workplace safety and environmental safeguards. The green tribunal pointed out that this incident suggests violations of important laws like the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. The tribunal emphasized that such lapses could have severe consequences for both people and the environment. The NGT also involved key authorities, including the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), along with district officials in Palghar, in the ongoing investigation. The tribunal has issued notices to these agencies, asking them to submit their responses within a week, ahead of the next hearing scheduled for October 9. Since the incident happened in Maharashtra, the NGT has transferred the case to its Western Zonal Bench in Pune for further proceedings. This case highlights the urgent need for better safety practices and strict adherence to environmental regulations in industrial units.
