Tue Mar 04 18:58:14 UTC 2025: ## NGT’s Lenient Ruling in Telangana Chemical Blast Case Sparks Outrage
**Hyderabad, March 5, 2025** – The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a judgment in the case of the April 3, 2024, chemical factory blast in Sangareddy district, Telangana, that killed six and injured many more. The ruling, however, has drawn criticism for its lack of action against those responsible.
The blast at SB Organics chemical factory resulted from a hot oil leak igniting a reaction mixture, according to the Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB). The NGT, which took suo motu cognisance of the incident following a report in *The Hindu*, accepted the TGPCB’s report and the District Collector’s account of subsequent actions. These actions included the closure of the factory due to safety violations, the removal of hazardous materials, and the payment of ₹31 lakh in environmental compensation by SB Organics. The company also covered the medical treatment of 12 injured workers.
The NGT’s final order, however, contains no further recommendations for action. This has prompted strong reactions, particularly from K. Baburao, a retired scientist who participated in a Factories Department investigation. Baburao criticizes the NGT for not holding the Director of Factories accountable, despite a draft report highlighting significant safety lapses at SB Organics. These lapses included unqualified staff, inadequate documentation and safety protocols, and a lack of hazard analysis and risk assessment. The draft report further alleges decades of regulatory failure allowing the company to operate with a dangerously designed reactor.
The NGT’s decision to levy only environmental compensation and close the factory, without addressing apparent regulatory failures and the lack of accountability for those responsible for the deaths and injuries, has raised concerns about the effectiveness of environmental regulations in India. The lack of action against the Director of Factories, cited as ultimately responsible for industrial safety monitoring, further fuels this concern.
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