Security deposit of Kirri Afgana Sugar mill confiscated

A day after large scale death of fish and other aquatic creatures in Beas river, the Punjab Government on Friday ordered the seizure of security deposit, worth Rs 25 lakh, of the Chaddha Sugar Mill of Kirri Afgana (near Beas), besides sealing the Mill from where sheera leaked into the Beas causing causality.

Besides, the state Environment Minister OP Soni also constituted a probe committee and sought a report within three days while warned of strict action if the Mill management is found guilty in the investigation report.

Earlier, during a meeting of the Environment Department, Soni issued clear directives against those flouting the environment rules.

He said that action would be taken against those industries who were found throwing waste material into drains or rivers.

“Action will also be taken against the officials concerned of the Municipal Corporations and the Municipal councils as well,” he added.

At the same time, Soni made it clear that the government was not against the industries, in fact, “we are promoting industries by giving power at low cost and other subsidies”.

Appreciating the efforts being made by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to control pollution in the state, he called for all-out efforts, especially by field officers at the level of environmental engineers, to ensure that pollution control devices are regularly operated by the industries and at the same time hassle-free service is provided to the industries.