Punjab CM Mann orders shutting down of Malbros liquor factory over pollution issue

Chandigarh: In a decision having vast political and social ramifications, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday ordered the immediate closure of the controversial Malbros liquor factory in the Zira sub-division of Ferozepur district on the ground of spreading air and water pollution.

CM Mann went live on his Facebook page in the afternoon to announce the closure of the Malbros liquor factory in the interest of the environment and the health of the people.

Sanjha Morcha led 32 organisations of farmers and labourers, and continued to sit on a dharna in front of the factory for the last 6 months.

Indianarrative.com was the first to expose Malbros’ clandestine operations for producing 3-highly poisonous chemicals without taking any permission from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). On December 18, 2022, these columns reported that the factory was also illegally producing and marketing highly poisonous Silver Potassium Cyanide, Fesoterodine, and Monoethanol Cyanide.

India Narrative had also exposed in another report, the inadequacy of earlier pollution tests that were carried out  to give Malbros a clean chit and allow the  factory to continue operations. Groundwater scientist Dr. Harmanjit Singh Dhadli had told induanarrative.com that the official pollution reports have not examined whether harmful organic pollutants like Melanoidins and Phthalates have contaminated the soil and groundwater by effluents released from the Malbros liquor factory

The decision to shut the liquor factory also comes in the run-up to the by-election for the Jalandhar parliamentary seat which has fallen vacant after the recent death of Congress’s Chaudhary Santokh Singh. The CM’s decision is also seen by many as aimed to win the support of rural voters.

Meanwhile, the Sanjha Morcha has refused to lift the dharna till a written order from the CM is received. AAP’s critics view the decision as nothing more than a political stroke to create a temporary buzz, aiming at influencing the coming Jalandhar parliamentary by-election.