Area needs agro-industry: Experts

Charanjit Singh Teja

Amritsar, July 13

Various environmentalists are raising their voice against MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla’s demand to establish a textile industrial park in the border area of Amritsar, which was opposed by public at Mattewara forest in Ludhiana.

In a video message, Aujla said CM Bhagwant Mann cancelled the Mattewara project. “It is a good decision as a forest should not be ruined. But we demand the government to shift the textile project to Amritsar. Earlier, Amritsar was a hub of textile. We have no industry in the region and people are facing unemployment and poverty. Our youth is forced to work in other states. We need this textile park in the border area,” said the MP.

However, a section of residents from the city praised him for demanding industry but environmentalists and social activists do not want the same as it causes a lot of pollution. Experts believe that agro-based industry is required here whereas textile industry may lead to air and water pollution.

Micheal Rahul, a social activist, said: “It is true that our region needs employment and development and industry could help to achieve this but the demand for a textile park is not good. We need an information technology park, food processing industry moreover the hospitality industry has a huge potential in the city. We should demand to explore these avenues. The city is perfect for medical tourism if institutes such as All-India Institute of Medical Sciences are established here.”

The SAD government had promised to establish an IT park in Amritsar in 2009 but failed to fulfil the promise.

Sandeep Singh, an environmentalist, said: “Textile industry is not required in Punjab. We need small units of agro-based industries which strengthen our farmers and provide employment opportunities. We have all infrastructure and connectivity with the world to sell our agro products. Why is the government investing in wrong projects? We can’t allow the government to pollute our water bodies, soil and air in the name of industry.”