Agitation against Samrala biogas plant intensifies as residents begin fast

Residents of Mushkabad and surrounding localities have intensified their stir to get their demand to stop the construction of the biogas plant accepted.

They have began a chain hunger fast and around 10 protesters, including men and women, will sit at the dharna site daily.

Though the residents had been protesting against the construction of the plant, the administration had allegedly got the work started forcefully over six months ago.

The protesters, led by former sarpanch Malwinder Singh Lovely and woman sarpanch Sarabjit Kaur, alleged that the government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, had failed to watch the interests of the common people by allowing the owners of the biogas plant at Mushkabad to play with the lives of the residents through health hazards due to water, air and soil pollution.

“Unfortunately, the administration has failed to comprehend the situation following the setting up of a similar plant at Ghungrali Rajputan, near Khanna. Massive pollution of air, water and soil had resulted in spread of waterborne and pulmonary diseases, besides magnification of poisonous compounds in human beings and animals,” Lovely said.

Residents appreciated that a large number of office-bearers and activists of revolutionary outfits, including trade unions, kisan unions and political parties, had started supporting the crusade launched by villagers of Mushkabad, Tapprian and Khirnia recently.

Residents of this part of Malwa have been protesting against the construction and operation of biogas plants at Mushkabad, Akhara, Bhundir, Bagge Kalan and Ghungrali Rajputan due to concerns about potential health and environmental impacts. They alleged that the release of harmful chemicals and odours from biogas plants would contaminate the environment and affect human and animal health, besides degrading the food chain.

The issues were also highlighted by a group of students from Punjabi University through a documentary depicting cancer-causing gas factories being established on the pretext of biogas plants and eco-friendly disposal of agricultural wastes, predominantly stubble.

The protesters said efforts would be made to utilise the platform to spread awareness about causes and consequences of reckless use of science and technology for short-term benefits harnessed by industrialists and traders.