Indore, Aug 7 The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday directed that the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC), along with the state government, bear the medical expenses of those injured in the explosion of an underground Piped Natural Gas line in the city in June.
The IMC is also "equally responsible" for providing compensation to the injured, said a bench of Justices Subodh Abhyankar and Alok Awasthi of the Indore bench while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL).
"It is also found that there have been delays in making the payment to the injured persons as the State Government always requires some time to process the payment, and thus there are some procedural delays. In such circumstances, since the Municipal Corporation is equally responsible for making the compensation, we direct that the Municipal Corporation along with the State Government shall bear the expenses," the High Court said.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ghanshyam Dhangar appeared in court during the hearing on the orders of the High Court.
The court was informed that it was mistakenly stated that the outstanding amount of a private hospital, where the injured are undergoing treatment, had been paid, when in fact the payment was in process.
The state government said the amount would be deposited in the hospital's account within a week.
Petitioner Ritesh Inani told reporters that the state government's earlier reply to the High Court contained incorrect information regarding payments made to hospitals. SDM Dhangar admitted his mistake and apologised to the High Court on Friday, Inani said.
The court also directed the issuance of a notice to Avantika Gas Limited regarding the June 23 PNG line explosion in Vijay Nagar, and fixed August 27 for the next hearing.
According to police, a drilling machine struck the underground PNG line, resulting in the explosion. Four persons suffered burn injuries in the incident.
Local residents claimed that an illegal tubewell was being dug at the site, while the IMC said a pit was being dug for groundwater recharge.
The area councillor has been named as an accused in the FIR along with four others, and probe is underway.
