Public action committee members and MLA Pargat Singh outside PUDA Bhawan in Mohali. Tribune photo
Ludhiana, August 4
A delegation of the public action committee (PAC), working to save the Sutlej and the Mattewara forest, along with MLA Pargat Singh met Water Resources, Mines and Geology, Housing and Urban Development Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria regarding the location of the government’s proposed modern industrial park.
The PAC representatives submitted a memorandum to the minister highlighting 20 points that the park should not be set up on the floodplains of the Sutlej and in the vicinity of the Mattewara forest.
MLA Pargat Singh had earlier also raised questions over the site of the proposed project. He had stated that an eco-sensitive site was not suitable for the industrial park.
The PAC representatives, Dr Amandeep Singh Bains, Jaskirat Singh and Kapil Arora, met the minister at PUDA Bhawan, Mohali, today along with MLA Pargat Singh.
PAC member Jaskirat Singh said: “When we met the minister, he agreed with us, that the industry can be located anywhere and such eco-sensitive location is most suitable for an eco-friendly eco-tourism project rather than any industry.”
Jaskirat Singh and Kapil Arora said Ludhiana was a critically polluted region and the Sutlej was facing a major problem of pollution due to existing industries in the state and with the setting up of such industrial park, the situation will deteriorate further. As the Sutlej is a drinking water source for millions, it must be protected.
Dr Amandep Singh Bains said since the tourism industry in the state was not getting proper exposure. Besides permitting the existing local farmers to continue with agricultural activities, such area should be used for eco-tourism development as well as to protect biodiversity along the Sutlej.
“The minister assured us that he will write to the Chief Minister and the CS that an eco-friendly project only should be planned at this location,” he said.
Despite repeated attempts, Sarkaria could not be contacted for comments. — TNS
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