Fish death: Pb min orders seizure of security deposit of sugar factory

Punjab Environment Minister O P Soni today ordered the seizure of security deposit worth Rs 25 lakh of a sugar factory in Amritsar district in the wake of the death of a large number of fish in Beas river.

He also ordered the sealing of the Chaddha Sugar Mill of Kirri Afgana from where molasses leaked into the Beas and caused the death of fish.

The minister constituted a probe committee and sought a report within three days and warned of strict action if the factory management is found guilty in the investigation report.

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

He said 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.

The minister said the government is not against the industries.

"In fact, we are promoting industries by giving power at low cost and other subsidies," he said.

He also directed that chronic defaulters of pollution should be penalised as per law.

A large number of dead fish were found floating in Beas yesterday after molasses from the sugar factory leaked into the river, officials had said.

Molasses leakage also changed the colour of the river water to rust brown.

Fresh water from the Pong Dam was released into the river to flush out the pollutants.