National Green Tribunal
NAGPUR: National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered criminal proceedings against the administration of an ordnance factory in Bhandara, Maharashtra, holding that “safe practices were not adopted” at the defence explosives unit where a massive blast killed nine workers and injured several others on January 24, 2025.In a detailed judgment pronounced on Monday, NGT (western zone) bench in Pune, comprising judicial member Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, held Pune-based Munitions India Ltd, which operated the Bhandara factory, accountable for serious violations of safety norms at the factory that manufactures high-grade explosives for the Army.The tribunal heard a suo motu case initiated on the basis of a January 24, 2025, report in TOI titled, “Maharashtra ordnance unit blast blows away factory roof, 8 killed”. “The lapses on part of Munitions India Limited resulted in the occurrence for which it should be held accountable,” the tribunal said, holding there was a clear contravention of Section 7A(2)(a) of Factories Act. It directed the Bhandara collector to ensure “criminal proceedings against the factory occupier, subject to mandatory approval from Centre”.
