Delhi gas leak: Why not shift CONCOR depot, asks NGT

The National Green Tribunal issued notice to Delhi government, the ministry of environment and forests and Delhi Pollution Control Committee over Saturday’s chemical spill at Tughlaqabad.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday issued notice to the Delhi government, the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee over chemical spill in the Tughlakabad container depot that led to over 475 schoolchildren being hospitalised.

475 schoolchildren reportedly fell sick after inhaling toxic fumes that leaked at CONCOR depot in Tughlaqabad on Saturday. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT PHOTO)

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar also issued a show cause notice to the Container Corporation of India on why its unit in south-east Delhi’s Tughlaqabad should not be shifted to some other place.

The chemical leak in Tughlakabad on Saturday triggered toxic fumes that left 475 schoolchildren sick with breathlessness, eye irritation, nausea and severe headache. Most of the students were discharged after a few hours, but a few had to be kept under observation in Intensive Care Units.

The green panel on Monday also appointed advocate Sanjay Upadhayay as amicus curiae in the matter. Upadhayay had earlier filed a plea that the Tughlaqabad depot should be shifted to another place as it adds to the worsening air quality in the city.

Some lawyers had informed the bench about Saturday’s chemical spill after the tribunal took suo motu note of the matter.

The leaking liquid chemical, which has been initially identified as chloromethylpyridine, is believed to have leaked from a couple of broken barrels inside an iron container, which was kept in the depot overnight before being transported to Sonepat in Haryana early on Saturday. This chemical, used in fertilisers, insecticides and certain drugs, is a known eye and respiratory irritant.