Villagers protest setting up of chemical plant at Daulowal

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, October 24

A chemical and resin plant, proposed to be set up by a renowned plywood company at village Daulowal has been opposed by the residents of Daulowal, Baghpur and surrounding villages.

Hundreds of people from around 20 villages held a dharna at the plant site of the company, Century Plywood. The protesters warned they would resist any step to set up the plant and also decided to form a committee to take up the struggle.

Former Union Minister Santosh Chowdhary, AAP candidate from Shamchurasi Dr Ravjot Singh, Gobindpur Khun-Khun village sarpanch Gurdeep Singh, Baghpur sarpanch Gurmit Singh and Daulowal sarpanch Anita Rani said the people have no objection to the setting up of a plywood factory but a chemical plant would be opposed strongly.

Santosh Chowdhary said the plant would become a threat to the lives of the people and fumes emanating from it would become a health hazard for the people of the area. The proposed factory is close to the residential area of Daulowal and the school is just half a kilometer from the plant—- all factors that have raised concerns over the adverse impact the plant would have on the health of the people.

Dr Ravjot Singh, the AAP candidate from Shamchurasi, said such plants could cause health hazards and should be set up away from population.

Sarpanch of Gobindpur Khun-Khun village Gurdeep Singh and Daulowal sarpanch Anita Rani alleged that company had sought permission in the name of the plywood factory but were trying to set up a chemical plant.

The sarpanch of Bagpur, Gurmeet Singh, said the area already has many small running plywood factories which have made their life miserable. The smoke emitted from factories and the contaminated water remain a threat to human and animal life.

Sarpanches and residents of 20 villages in the area participated in a dharna in large numbers on the occasion,

People had opposed the plant at an open hearing held by the Deputy Commissioner. The DC had held an open hearing on the issue three days ago and the people’s ire on setting up of a chemical plant was out in the open.

President of the company Himanshu Shah and general manager DS Chauhan had tried to persuade the people by saying they were going to set up a glue plant with the help of a foreign company that will cause no pollution or hazard but the people had unanimously refused their proposal.

Deputy Commissioner Anindita Mitra had told the people that a video report of the day’s proceedings would be sent to the government and the people’s concerns would be duly taken care of.

General Manager, District Industries Centre, Subhash Chand, former engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Arun Kakkar, Rajiv Sharma of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala, and Pooja Sharma, SDO, Environment, Hoshiarpur, were also present in the open hearing.