Villagers protest delay in shifting to new place

Tribune News Service

Panipat, May 10

Residents of Khukhrana village in the district today protested against the delay in shifting of the villagers to a new place. The village is located close to the Panipat Thermal Power Station.

The protesters led by Surender Kalia, a member of the Block Samiti, gathered at the Mini-Secretariat here and demanded immediate shifting of the villagers. The administration had acquired nearly 40 acres of land near Sodhapur village long ago to shift the villagers.

Villagers said: “We are forced to live in pathetic conditions for the past 30 years as the pollution of the thermal and cement plant has affected every household in the village. Most of the residents are suffering from problems like asthma, tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases. The power plant has also contaminated the groundwater which has caused skin diseases.”

“The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the shifting of the villagers to another pollution-free area when we filed a petition in 2007. After the High Court’s order, about 40 acres of land was acquired nearly Sodhapur village. Even today, more than 2,000 persons are still living in the village,” said Kalia.

The protesters submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Chander Shekhar Khare, who assured the villagers that he would gather all details from the officers concerned as he had joined his duty recently and also visit the village soon.