Villagers oppose proposed cement unit in ‘public hearing’

On the invitation of the Environmental Struggle Committee, a programme of ‘actual public hearing’ was organised today by people of the area regarding the industrial unit proposed by Ambuja Cement on the land of Raniyala, Sardullapur and Baddoyan villages in Garhshankar.

It passed a unanimous resolution demanding from the government that the proposed unit should not be allowed as cement pollution was deadly.

The villagers attended the public hearing held at Raniyala in large numbers and rejected the public hearing held by the Punjab Pollution Control Board on January 19, 2024.

In a resolution passed in the presence of tehsildar, Garhshankar, it was also said the health was more important and the unit should not be started at the risk of their life.

The proposed unit was to be installed on an agricultural land where a pipeline was laid for irrigation. The cement unit here will not only damage the crops, but also destroy orchards. The villagers said they would agree with every decision of the committee’.

Will inform govt: Tehsildar

Naib Tehsildar Jagpal Singh of Garhshankar, who attended the ‘actual public hearing’ as the government’s representative, assured them that he would inform the government of the resolutions passed in his presence.

Ultimatum to govt

The villagers warned the government that if a decision was not taken to cancel the proposed unit within one month, the people would organise Paun Pani Morcha, taking along the organisations working on environment, human rights and other social issues at the Punjab level, including farm organisations, lawyers, etc. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, National Green Tribunal and Supreme Court will be approached.