Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In re: Gas Leak at LG Polymers Chemical Plant in R R Venkatapuram village Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh dated 01/06/2020.

This application seeks intervention in the matter relating to providing remedies to the victims of leakage of hazardous gas styrene on May 7, 2020 from a chemical factory owned by M/s LG Polymers India Private Limited, Vishakhapatnam. The applicant has mentioned that the Environment Relief Fund Manager under the provisions of Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 should spend the available fund to rehabilitate the victims. The said fund can be utilized under the provisions of the NGT Act, 2010 for restoration of environment and compensation to the victims.

The two member bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Sheo Kumar Singh felt the issue which has been raised as an Intervention Application, should appropriately be taken up as separate proceedings and register as a separate Original Application. Response has been sought from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on the alleged unutilized amount of Rs 574 crores and if the amount was available, the plan of action to use the amount in accordance with law.

The response has to be filed by the MoEF&CC within two months.