Residents demand closure of bone-processing unit near Phagwara village

Tehsildar Jaswinder Singh conducted an inspection of a bone-processing unit located near Khatti village on the outskirts of Phagwara. The facility recently came under public scrutiny after several tonnes of cow meat was allegedly recovered from the rear of the building of a roadside eatery on the GT Road, reigniting long-pending demand for the unit’s closure.

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Residents from around 15 nearby villages, including Khatti, Khurampur, Dhadde, Chak Prema, Gulabgarh, Ambedkar Nagar Dhadde, Bir Dhandoli, Dhandoli, Rawalpindi, Seekri, Bhogpur, GNA University, Varyah, and Lakhpur, submitted a memorandum to the Phagwara Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), demanding permanent shutdown of the unit.

Local leaders, including Jathedar Joga Singh Dhadha, sarpanch Jaspreet Singh Jassal of Khatti, and numberdar Kuldeep Ram, said foul smell and unhygienic conditions created by the unit were severely affecting public health and polluting the environment. They alleged that what was initially a regular boneyard was illegally converted into a full-scale meat processing factory.

The area around the facility is reportedly swarming with stray dogs, posing a serious threat to pedestrians and commuters, as the unit is situated near the main Hoshiarpur Road. Residents claim the presence of these animals has led to several near-miss accidents.

During a specially convened meeting involving village heads and residents, it was unanimously decided to start a protest if immediate action is not taken in this connection. The leaders issued a strong warning that a mass agitation would be launched if their demand was not met.

Present during the inspection were Vijay Kumar Jassal, Malkeet Singh (Panch, Khatti village), Gurdev Singh (Panch, Dhadde village), Kulwant Singh (Panch, Dhadha village), Giani Amritpal Singh (Khurampur village), Vicky (Bhogpur village), Mahinder Singh, Giani Balkar Singh (Seekri village) and Narinder Kumar (Gulabgarh village) among others.