Malbros Liquor Factory Row: CPCB asks for action-taken-report within 45 days
Malbros Liquor Factory Row: CPCB asks for action-taken-report within 45 days
Ferozepur, May 20, 2023: With the protest against the closure of Malbros Factory going on at Zira by the Sanjha Morcha, on May 17, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has written to Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on May 17 with directions to follow on 7 points and asked for action taken report within 45 days.
Added here, the farmers under the banner of Sanjha Morcha are continuing with their protest in front of the factory since July 26 for permanent closure of the factory besides registration of a case against the management.
In the report submitted to National Green Tribunal – NGT, the CPCB has indicated that none of the 29 water samples taken from in and around the Zira ethanol plant is fit for human consumption. Out of this, 12 borewells were releasing water with unpleasant odour while another 5 had grey water. Not only this, the total dissolved solids (TDS), boron and sulphate were also beyond the acceptable limits. Besides, 10 borewells and 6 piezometers were installed inside the ethanol plant without obtaining permission from the competent authorities.
Kapil Dev, Kuldeep Singh Dr.Amandeep Singh members of NGO named Public Action Committee before the National Green Tribunal, Delhi through video Conferencing had pleaded for appropriate response from the various authorities.
The CPCB in its Inspection Report of April 12, 2023 submitted by Dr.Narender Sharma, Scientist ‘E’ CPCB, Regional Directorate, Chandigarh, had requested further details on 13 points from M/s Malbros International Pvt. Ltd, for comparing the outcome with the base-line data, correlation and decide further course of investigation and remediation, which are still awaited despite follow up with PPCB and the Industry.
The CPCB in its letter dated March 2 to Member, Secretary PPCB has asked for certain documents in reference to letter from MP Lok Sabha, Khadoor Sahib received by CPCB regarding case of acute pollution of ground water by the factory at Zira.
It has been highlighted that distillery has frilled 25 deep tube-wells in their compound and dumping toxic water in them leading to high pollution in ground water in radius of 15 km, polluting dringing and irrigation water of over dozen villages, pollution has killed cows and other livestock and human pollution is suffering severely and suffering from serious diseases like cancer and suffering with pain and financial loss. Subsequently, a reminder was also floated on March 20 and on this Gurnam Singh, Regional Director further wrote to Malbros Factory to provide the documents immediately.
Further, on May 17, CPCB wrote to Chairman, PPCB on May 17 with directions to follow on 7 points and asked for action taken report within 45 days.
