Punjab Govt for permanent closure of Zira distillery 

The state government, in an affidavit submitted before the NGT, has recommended the permanent closure of a distillery unit and an ethanol plant run by Malbros Industries at Mansurwala village in Zira for causing severe pollution and violation of environmental norms.

The affidavit, submitted on November 2 by Special Secretary, Science, Technology & Environment, Manish Kumar on behalf of the AAP government, termed the distillery “rogue" with a documented history of violating environmental norms. The distillery has been in the eye of the storm due to more than three years of continuous protest by farmers.

Landmark moment

It is a landmark moment...for the first time, the government has acknowledged in no uncertain words that any industry which is causing pollution must be permanently shut down. -- Jaskirat Singh, PAC member

The government's damning admissions echo the concerns being raised by the Sanjha Morcha and the Public Action Committee (PAC) for long. The government has stated that the plant management should not be permitted to use the unit or the premises for production of ethanol or otherwise. “The record of this case reveals that the proponent industry has a history of flouting environmental norms over extended period, including hoodwinking the consultation or enforcement mechanisms” states the affidavit.

“The project proponent’s industrial operations violate the fundamental right to life and healthy environment” stated the affidavit, claiming that the government was committed to preventing "rogue" industries from initiating or resuming operations that pose any threat of environmental harm. “There is zero tolerance for those who prioritise profit over the health of our air, water and soil," Kumar stated, emphasising that it was a case of direct application of the ‘polluter pays’ principle, which requires not only the assessment but also the effective recovery of costs for environmental restoration and remediation.

The PAC, which has supported the people’s movement led by the Sanjha Morcha for over three years, said the affidavit represented a major institutional shift in Punjab’s environmental governance. Jaskirat Singh of PAC said, “It is a landmark moment for environmental activism in the state. For the first time, the government has turned around and acknowledged in no uncertain words that any industry which is causing pollution must be permanently shut down. "It shows that persistent efforts can compel institutions and even governments to accept reality,” said Jaskirat.

Roman Brar, member, Sanjha Morcha said: “Finally, the Punjab Government has accepted what we have been saying from day one that the plant was causing pollution and it must be shut down. However, it took three long years of a painstaking battle, but it is now paying off." Another PAC Member Kapil Arora said “Polluters must now pay for the cleanup under the 'polluter pays' principle, as the state has clearly invoked.”