National Green Tribunal (NGT) Orders Zira Ethanol Plant to Provide Potable Water to Affected Villages

In early July 2022, volunteers were digging a borewell at the Gurdwara of Miyanwala Kalan, 4 km from village Mansurwal in Panjab. At 670 feet, the diggers found polluted water. It was dark brown and smelled like lahan (raw liquor). Soon around 40 villages around the ethanol plant and distillery run by Malbros International Pvt Ltd at Mansurwal in Zira went on protest over the pollution of their water, land, and air. The Zira distillery is owned by SAD ex-MLA Deep Malhotra. As the protest grew, shielding the leader from SAD, the Panjab government tried to evict protesters while people insisted on water samples being collected. The samples proved contamination through concentration of metals and toxic elements. In Jan this year, the Panjab CM announced a closure of the factory but did not pass orders in the state assembly. Recently, while taking cognizance of the reports submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board and Central Ground Water Board on alleged contamination of groundwater, the NGT has directed the state government to ensure safe drinking water to affected villages. This is another people’s victory and now they have offered to hold chabeels - water kiosks - with water from their villages at the venue where Panjab CM will debate opposition leaders.