Zira Liquor Factory Case: NGT verdict delayed, Next hearing on Aug 18
Ferozepur, August 5, 2025: The much-anticipated verdict by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the Zira liquor factory case has been delayed, with the next hearing now scheduled for August 18, 2025. The case, originally listed for final hearing on August 4 at serial numbers 20 to 22, could not be taken up as the Bench was unavailable.
The protest against the liquor factory in Zira, Ferozepur district, has now crossed 1100th day, marking nearly three years of sustained agitation by local farmers, residents, and environmental activists. Demonstrators continue to demand the permanent closure of the distillery, citing groundwater contamination and environmental degradation.
Despite Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's public announcement in January 2023 regarding the factory’s closure, formal orders have yet to be issued. Earlier, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had denied the renewal of the factory's operating license, but the management challenged this decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
With hopes pinned on the NGT’s decision, protestors remain resolute in their peaceful resistance, vowing to continue their movement until the distillery is officially shut down and their environmental concerns are addressed.