Mothuka village's protest triggers state review of waste-to-charcoal project

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

, November 23

Haryana Government has decided to review the controversial waste-to-charcoal plant project proposed near Mothuka village, following continued opposition from local residents. The review meeting was initiated after a directive from Rajesh Nagar, the Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, in response to concerns raised by a delegation led by Mohan Bansal, the sarpanch of Mothuka village.

The delegation, which met with Nagar on Friday, voiced strong objections, claiming the plant would severely pollute the area and create health hazards. They demanded the project either be cancelled or relocated. In response, Minister Nagar assured the residents the state government would thoroughly review the situation before making any final decisions.

Nagar discussed the matter with Vipul Goel, the Cabinet Minister for Urban Local Bodies and officials from the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF). The minister directed MCF's Commissioner to conduct a review, including an on-site visit with representatives from relevant departments and in the presence of local residents, to ensure an amicable resolution.

The Rs 500 crore project, to be set up by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVNL), a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has faced significant resistance from the village residents. The MCF and NVVNL are expected to carry out the review next week. A senior civic official noted that while the opposition has created a dilemma, the MCF is committed to following the state government's directives, especially as finding land without opposition remains a key challenge.

The sarpanch, Mohan Bansal, emphasised that the land designated for the plant had been initially acquired for a power generation project and cannot be repurposed for other uses. The ongoing protest, supported by residents from nearby villages such as Arua, Nangal, Hansa and Faijjupur, has taken the form of an indefinite sit-in at the proposed site. The villagers’ primary demand remains the cancellation of the project.

An MOU for the plant was signed in July this year between NVVNL and the Municipal Corporations of Faridabad and Gurugram.