Civic Chief Warns Of FIR Against Lapses
Nine people were killed in Moshi after a heap of garbage fell on the administrative building of the waste-to-energy plant
Pune: Hours after the four-day rescue operation at the Moshi waste depot concluded on Sunday with the recovery of the last missing person, Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi on Sunday issued show-cause notices to the civic body’s environment department and Antony Waste Handling Cell Ltd, the company operating the waste-to-energy plant, seeking explanations on permissions, safety compliance and possible lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy.Nine people died after the administrative building at the plant collapsed around 1.30pm on Wednesday when the adjoining garbage mound dislodged and crashed into the structure, allegedly following heavy rainfall.“We have sought detailed explanations from both the company and the environment department. Information has been sought on the building’s structural permissions, the safety measures that were in place, and whether any inspections had identified the risk of the garbage mound collapsing or recorded previous incidents of waste sliding from the mound,” Suryawanshi told TOI.He said the civic administration would examine the replies to determine whether there had been any negligence. “If the internal inquiry establishes lapses on the part of any individual, officials have been directed to register an FIR with the police,” he said, adding that both notices seek a reply within two days.The notices assume significance amid reports that the administrative building had received an occupancy certificate only for the ground floor, while the first and second floors allegedly lacked occupancy approval. The civic body has sought all relevant documents from the company to verify the permissions and compliance.Suryawanshi said complaints had also been received regarding the educational qualifications of a senior official of the civic environment department, who is under scrutiny for alleged lapses. “Those complaints are also being verified,” he said.The municipal commissioner chaired a meeting with senior civic officials on Sunday to review the incident and directed them to immediately begin a comprehensive inquiry to fix responsibility for the collapse.He said a high-level inquiry committee comprising structural engineering and environmental experts would be constituted soon. “We have approached IIT to nominate experts in structural engineering and environmental science for the inquiry committee. Once we receive the names, the inquiry order will be issued,” he said, adding that the formal order is expected on Monday.The inquiry will also examine the height of the garbage mound, which, according to PCMC officials, was around 25 to 30 metres. Several experts have maintained that the recommended height for landfill cells is 20 metres. Besides the landfill, the probe will also scrutinise the structural stability and legality of the administrative building.Suryawanshi said the civic administration had been instructed to expedite compensation for the victims’ families.“We are completing all formalities on priority so that the municipal corporation’s ex gratia assistance of Rs 10 lakh for each deceased victim’s family can be credited within the next one or two days,” he said.Meanwhile, Antony Waste in an official statement on Sunday said “Operations at the waste to energy plant have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure while a structural and safety assessment of the site is carried out.”The company’s managing director Jose Jacob said in a statement, “Members of our leadership and I are personally meeting each family to understand what they need and to make sure it is provided.”A dedicated person from the company has been assigned as a single- point contact for each affected family to assist them in medical care, documentation, insurance claims, statutory benefits and other formalities.
