Work sheds were reduced to debris in the Sree Mariyammal fireworks unit, where a series of explosions took place in February 2021. Archive | Photo credit: G. Moorthy
Muthukutti, a resident of Nadusurangkutti in the district of Virudhunagar, was among the workers who survived the deadly explosion in Sreee Mariyammal Fireworks Factory in Achankulam Village, which charged 27 lives four years ago on February 12, 2021. But an injury that an injury that He has left evil and has not yet received the monetary relief promised by the state government.
Like Muthukutti, Jayarani, whose husband Michael Raj was killed in the explosion, also expects compensation. “The government gave us ₹ 1 Lakh, which was spent on its treatment in a private hospital. He was under treatment for 25 days, after which he was referred to the hospital of the Madurai government. But I entered the hospital in Sivakasi since I couldn’t pay the cost of trips, ”he said. Her husband was 35 when she later died without responding to treatment.
Jayarani says his children are in classes 9 and 7 now. “They told us that they would pay us compensation for ₹ 20 Lakh. But nothing has materialized. FireworksThe company had issued a check for ₹ 5 Lakh, but bounced within a week of its broadcast, ”he says.
The listeners aligned to transport the bodies of the deceased workers, in the facilities of the Hospital of the Government of Satur. File | Photo credit: G. Moorthy
P. Saganatham’s mother died in a hospital after suffering wounds in the explosion. “The accident occurred during lunchtime that day,” he recalled. “Those who died in the place obtained compensation from ₹ 3 Lakh immediately, but the injured were paid only ₹ 1 Lakh, and after their death, the collector’s office gave another ₹ 1 Lakh. For the autopsy, they gave us ₹ 30,000, ”said Saganatham, whose father died of Covid-19 in the same period.
“We request the district collector last month, but there has been no relief,” he said, claiming that he had also received a company’s check, but had bounced.
Life after an injury
Muthukutti, the youngest of four brothers, was 19 when the accident occurred. His left leg had to be amputated in the thigh and is now at home without work. He has studied to class 1.
“They told me that I would receive compensation from ₹ 15 Lakh, but that is yet to come,” he said, adding that the company’s check also bounced in his case.
The National Green Court (NGT) that assumed the case Suo motu In 2021 he granted ₹ 20 Lakh per family for deceased victims and ₹ 15 Lakh to “people who have burns greater than 50%, ₹ 10 Lakh for people who have burned 25%to 50%and ₹ 5 Lakh for people who have injuries between 5% and 25% ”. The Court also ordered that compensation must be paid within the time established by it and ordered an additional responsibility for interest annual to 12% for breach of payment.
S. Karuppiah, president of the Dalit Liberation Movement, said from 2022, to 342 people had died in the explosions of the Fire Cookie UnitIn the state.
“The government is paying a compensation of ₹ 10 Lakh for those who died in the tragedy of Hooch, but these are people whose family members have died while working. They will benefit from compensation. There are children whose parents have died in the accident, ”he said.
On Monday (February 3, 2025), the appeal of the victims before the NGT, with respect to the delay of compensation, was dismissed and were told to approach the Supreme Court.
‘Government. paid its part ‘
A senior state government official said that compensation should not be assumed by the Government but by the owner of the pilot company. A total of ₹ 15 Lakh must be collected for each victim of the owner, he said.
“The government has already disbursed its participation as ₹ 5 Lakh. While the government of the Union provided ₹ 2 Lakh, the state government disbursed ₹ 3 Lakh. The company must pay the remaining ₹ 15 LAKH. The case is being carried out under the income recovery law, and the NGT has been informed, ”added the official.
Published – February 5, 2025 06:51 PM IST
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