ED conducts searches at places linked to liquor firm Malbros International over environmental violations
The Enforcement Directorate carried out searches across Punjab, Delhi and MP at locations linked to Malbros International, a liquor firm accused of soil and groundwater contamination in Punjab’s Ferozepur district.
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ED sources revealed that Malbros International has been implicated in severe environmental damage, including soil and groundwater contamination at its factory in Zira tehsil in Ferozepur district. (Express File)The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out an extensive search operation at seven locations across Punjab, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh linked to Malbros International Pvt Ltd, a liquor manufacturing firm owned by former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA and liquor baron Deep Malhotra, his son Gautam, and their family. The searches were carried out in connection with a money laundering probe linked to environmental violations by the firm.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had previously filed a criminal complaint against Malbros International for breaching the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Violations under this Act are classified as scheduled offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, prompting the ED’s involvement.
Malbros International is part of the Oasis Group of Companies.
ED sources revealed that Malbros International has been implicated in severe environmental damage, including soil and groundwater contamination at its factory in Zira tehsil in Ferozepur district. The company allegedly improperly disposed of industrial effluents, resulting in significant water pollution within a 4 km radius of the plant.
This issue garnered national attention last year when the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) inspected the Zira factory following concerns. The inspection uncovered widespread violations of environmental norms, as detailed in a report presented to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The CPCB’s findings indicated that water from 29 borewells near the factory was unfit for drinking, with several samples exhibiting unpleasant odour, discolouration, and hazardous levels of toxic elements such as cyanide, arsenic, and lead. The report also highlighted severe contamination in groundwater, affecting villages up to 15 km from the factory. The concentration of chromium, iron, manganese, nickel and lead were found to be higher by six to seven times, 650 to 800 times, 32 to 37 times, 10 to 11 times and eight to 13 times, respectively, as against the permissible limits at some places near the said structure.
In response to these findings and mounting local protests, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced plans to close the factory in January 2023. The PPCB had also refused to renew the factory’s operational consent.
Malbros International has contested the PPCB’s order in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, asserting compliance with environmental regulations.
The CPCB and CGWB inspections revealed further violations, including unauthorised borewells and high levels of heavy metals in the factory’s groundwater. The CPCB had recommended further investigations to identify and remediate contaminated areas, and the PPCB has been urged to take corrective actions to address the environmental damage.
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