Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday said the Union environment ministry had deputed a Central team to assess the ecological damage caused by the spill of molasses from a sugar mill into the Beas river killing thousands of fish.

Welcoming the development after an appeal made by him on Monday, the SAD President said he had been conveyed that a Central team would make on the spot inquiry of the man-made ecological disaster which had killed thousands of tonnes of fish besides polluting drinking water supply of the Malwa region.

The SAD president, who had written a letter in this context to Union minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr Harsh Vardhan on Monday, said criminal proceedings should be launched against the owners and directors of the Chadha sugar mill/distillery which had willfully discharged effluents into the Beas river.

The SAD president said besides loss of aquatic life and contamination of the Beas eco system, the owners of sugar mill had endangered the lives of millions of people who were dependent on water supply from the river in Punjab and Rajasthan.

“Such pollution could result in a spike in cancer cases in the Malwa region and cause untold hardships to its people. We request the Central team to recommend a comprehensive compensation package for the affected people which should be enforced by sealing and even auctioning the sugar mill if required,” he added.

The SAD president, who is currently campaigning in Shahkot, said in another tragic development the sacred Kali Bein, which is historically associated with the life of Guru Nanak ji, had also been contaminated by the willful release of effluents from the mill.

The former Deputy CM also asked the Punjab government not to shelter those responsible for this heinous crime, saying the government was responsible for the welfare of the people and not its chosen favourites.

“In case the government still does not take appropriate action against the Sarna family we will explore legal options to ensure justice to the victims of the Sarna family’s cruelty”, he added.