Residents of three villages in Bathinda district and one village in Muktsar district intensified their opposition to two industrial projects on Wednesday, citing environmental and public health concerns.
In Bathinda, residents of Maiserkhana, Yatri and Bhai Bakhtaur villages strongly opposed the proposed 3-million-tonne-per-annum (TPA) cement plant of JK Cement Limited during a public hearing conducted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) at Maiserkhana village on the Bathinda-Mansa road.
The hearing was part of the environmental clearance process for the project. Residents said the proposed plant would come up on 26.79 hectares and would be located barely 1 km from the residential area of Yatri village. They also raised concerns about the proximity of the historic Durga Mata Temple at Maiserkhana, which attracts lakhs of devotees during the Navratra festivals every year.
Environmental activist Jasinder Sekhon, who had come from Sangrur, argued that the company had wrongly stated that the cement industry falls under the orange category, adding that this classification had been quashed by a recent Supreme Court order. She also demanded that the government earmark separate industrial zones for such projects.
Farmer leaders and residents termed the project a “death warrant”, saying it could adversely affect the environment, public health and the religious significance of the area. Resham Singh Yatri, district general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), said the three villages had unanimously decided not to allow the cement plant.
Some activists, including Amitoj Mann and Lakhvir Singh Lakha Sidhana, were among those who raised queries during the hearing, including concerns about the prevalence of cancer in the area. They also claimed that the hearing was held before the completion of the mandatory 30-day notice period.
Some farmers further alleged that the land had been acquired on the pretext that a foodgrain silo project would be established there, but a cement plant has now been proposed instead. Company officials, however, maintained that the land had been purchased in accordance with the law.
A senior district administration officer said the final decision would be taken as per legal provisions.
Meanwhile, at Madhir village in the Gidderbaha subdivision of Muktsar district, residents continued their protest for the 35 consecutive day against an under-construction hot-mix asphalt plant, alleging severe pollution and environmental hazards due to its proximity to the residential area.
On Wednesday, politicians from various parties joined the protesters, who blocked the Muktsar-Gidderbaha road in the village until the afternoon.
Jagdeep Singh, Sarpanch of Madhir village, said, “We will intensify our agitation after Monday if the under-construction hot-mix asphalt plant is not shifted from here.”
