Row over proposed meat plant at Malerkotla village

Sushil Goyal

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, May 18

Though the clearance given to set up a meat plant (slaughterhouse) at Ghanauri Kalan village near Dhuri was withdrawn by the Punjab government in March, a similar controversy has erupted over the proposed setting up of a meat plant at Himtana village near Malerkotla.

Residents of nine villages located in and around Himtana are up in arms against the setting up of this proposed meat plant saying this will not only hurt their religious sentiments but also pollute the environment of the area.

Hundreds of villagers in five-six tractor-trailers from Himtana, Mohammadgarh, Dalelgarh, Faizgarh and Bhasaur villages today reached the office of the Deputy Commissioner here and submitted a memorandum against setting up the slaughterhouse to the Additional Deputy Commissioner.

The protesters were led by sarpanch of Himtana village Kulwinder Singh and head of Badda Dera Ashram Udasin, Himtana, Mahant Raink Muni Dass. On the occasion, the Himtana sarpanch said as per their information, the meat plant was being set up in their village on 37 bighas by a worldwide meat supplier company — Al-Anam Frozen Private Limited India.

Kulwinder said the company officials had come to their village for measurement of land. At that time they asked the officials to show the project report but they declined to do so. Kulwinder and Mahant Raink Muni Dass said the villagers would not allow setting up of this project in their village at any cost. Mahant said no one could see slaughtering of innocent animals in the area.

The villagers also said the district administration should stop the Malerkotla tehsildar from doing registration of sale deed of the land as the company had already given Rs 15 lakh as advance to a farmer for purchasing his land.

Addressing the villagers at the district administrative complex here today, Iqbal Singh Jhundan, MLA Amargarh, in whose Assembly constituency Himtana village falls, assured them that he along with the villagers would meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to explain him about the sentiments of the people. However, setting up of any type of meat plant would not be allowed at any cost in the area, he added.