Zira Stir: Govt to restore arms licences of 19 persons, Committees collect 12 more samples
Zira Stir: Govt to restore arms licences of 19 persons, Committees collect 12 more samples
Zira/Ferozepur, December 5, 2023: Amid on-going protests against the Malbros Liquor Factory at Mansurwala in Zira block, call for two days statewide protests besides holding a congregation on January 6 on the bhog of Rajvir Singh who died a few days back allegedly due to pollution produced by the plant and disassociating with the fact-finding panels, the committees today collected 12 sample of water and soil and district administration decided to restore the arms licences of 19 persons.
Added here, the Punjab government has been fined Rs 20 crore by the Punjab and Haryana High Court over protests at a private distillery-cum-ethanol manufacturing plant in Ferozepur, when the distillery owners had moved the Court as the unit was incurring huge losses after the protesters blocked the gates. Hundreds of protesters were booked for moving 300 m away from the factory as per the Court orders for shifting the sit-in dharna and arms licences were also cancelled.
Residents of around 40 villages under the Zira sub-division of Ferozepur district have been demanding the closure of a distillery located at Mansurwala village. They claim that the discharge from this industrial unit has polluted the groundwater and air, thus killing cattle and causing cancer among other diseases. On July 24 this year, locals under the banner of Sanjha Morcha launched a protest after they found contaminated water at a tube well nearby a religious place. However, the NGT had given a clean chit after getting the samples tested from three laboratories but the protesters are adamant for closure of the factory.
The Punjab government has lost nearly Rs 100 crore in revenue and deployment of the police force. The district authorities have deployed nearly 2,000 cops in and around the protest area. The local administration faced tough times to pacify the protesters, who demanded the industrial unit be shut down permanently.
Divulging with details, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sagar Setia said, the committee went inside the factory today and took 5 water and 2 soil samples for the examination of water and soil related to the (alcohol factory) located at Malbrose International Private Limited Mansurwal Kalan Zira. Apart from this, the committee went to Zira and various villages adjacent to the factory like Mansurwal Kalan, Ratol Rohi, and Saner etc. and collected another 5 samples of water.
He further informed that the samples taken for water and soil testing will be sent to Sri Ram Laboratory, SAI (SAI) Laboratory Patiala and CSIR-II. TR to Lucknow for investigation. He said that along with the investigation committee and the representatives of the relevant laboratories, SDM Zira Gagandeep Singh and DSP, Palwinder Singh were also especially present.
Sagar Setia also informed that the inquiry report for restoration of 19 local residents whose licenses were suspended has been received and they will be restored soon.
