What happened
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that three children died by drowning in an ash dyke lagoon constructed by the National Thermal Power Corporation in the Kanti area of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar. The Commission has treated the incident as a possible violation of human rights and has sought a detailed report from NTPC and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarpur, within two weeks.
Why the matter matters
The incident links industrial waste disposal with the right to life and personal safety under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. It also raises questions on site fencing, warning boards, local enforcement, and the responsibility of a public sector power generator to prevent access to hazardous coal-ash storage areas.
Key facts for Prelims
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