93-year-old green activist from Sangrur led battle against cement factory

Harbinder Singh Sekhon, a 93-year-old resident of Sangrur, has emerged as a symbol of resistance in the state by spearheading a legal challenge against the proposed cement plant at Deh Kalan village, citing environmental and public health concerns.

Sekhon and other villagers had moved the Supreme Court against the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had dismissed petitions challenging the CLU granted to the project.

Nonagenarian Singh, along with residents of Deh Kalan and neighbouring villages, have been running sustained awareness campaigns, warning people about the hazardous impact of the proposed cement plant on health, agriculture and local environment.

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He argued that the industrial unit could irreversibly damage air quality and groundwater in the agrarian belt. “This fight was for the coming generations. It is our responsibility to give children a better tomorrow so that they could breathe fresh air and do not have to gasp for fresh air amidst smoke-emitting cement plants,” said Harbinder’s neice and environmentalist Jasinder Kaur.

The foundation stone of Punjab Cement Plant — a subsidiary of Shree Cement Limited — was laid in 2021 by then CM Charanjit Singh Channi. After the HC rejected their challenge, the villagers led by Sekhon approached the apex court in April 2024.

The SC subsequently issued notices to the Union Environment Ministry, the Punjab Government, the Punjab Pollution Control Board, HUID’s STP, the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion and other stakeholders, seeking detailed responses. Residents said the proposed cement factory would have adversely affected around 1,800 school students, farmers and a nearby police training centre.