After the Supreme Court ban order on the liquor shops on the National Highways, now the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has cracked whip on the out still (country liquor) distilleries operating in Ganjam district.
The NGT Eastern Zone Bench has directed the State Government to close down the illegal out still manufacturing units forthwith until further orders.
This has come as a rude shock for the country liquor producers in Ganjam district as well as the State as the NGTs order has ramification on the entire State.
An NGT East Zone Bench consisting of Justice SP Wangdi and Expert Member Ranjan Chatterjee has issued the order to the State Chief Secretary to ensure that the Ganjam District Magistrate closes all illegal out stills forthwith until further orders.
The NGT maintained that no liquor unit of the present kind can be permitted to run without obtaining Environment Clearance (EC), which is mandatory under law. According to law, these units have to take air and water pollution clearance for their running.
It was alleged that the distilleries are operating without obtaining EC and consent to operate from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB).
Though there are several out stills operating without any such licences from the OSPCB, they have obtained licences from the Excise Department, admit officials.
The NGT has said, “Needless to observe that no liquor manufacturing unit, be it country or otherwise, shall be permitted to operate without EC and Consent to Operate notwithstanding the fact that they have obtained licence from the Department of Excise.”
In the State, there are over 530 out still main shops and several branch shops, which depend on the out stills which are operating without any EC.
However, owners of many out still distilleries observe that as these units are not “industries”; so, taking EC from the OSPCB is not necessary.
On receiving the NGT order, the Department of Excise has asked the Ganjam district Collector to shut down the out stills; and, accordingly, the Ganjam district administration has issued orders to these distilleries to close down immediately.
Official sources said there are nearly 50 out stills in Ganjam district; and those receiving liquor from the distilleries running without EC have been closed down with effect from May 15.