Jaipur, April 9 -- The National Green Tribunal has launched a comprehensive investigation into the oxygen plant explosion in Jaipur in February that killed three people, raising alarms over environmental safety lapses and regulatory failures. The Central Zone Bench of the tribunal in Bhopal, comprising judicial member Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Dr Prashant Gargava, took suo motu cognisance based on a news report in a Jaipur vernacular daily on February 2. The report detailed a blast at an oxygen refilling unit in Vishwakarma Industrial Area, where multiple cylinders exploded during operations. It killed the factory manager and two workers, and inflicted extensive damage on nearby areas. The bench observed that the incident raises substantial questions on environmental protection and enforcement of provisions under the NGT Act, 2010. It cited the Supreme Court judgment in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs Ankita Sinha & Ors., which upholds the tribunal's power to initiate suo motu proceedings on environmental matters. The NGT issued notices to respondents-including the State of Rajasthan via Jaipur district magistrate, Rajasthan Pollution Control Board, the oxygen plant's authorised signatory, and the state principal secretary (environment)-requiring responses within six weeks. A joint committee, with representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board, ministry of environment, forest and climate change, and Rajasthan Pollution Control Board, will inspect the site and submit a report with action taken details within six weeks. RPCB will provide nodal coordination. The matter is listed for further hearing on July 7. The intervention aims to enforce accountability and safeguards against future incidents....