Environment activists elated over scrapping of Mattewara project; claim it a win of Punjab people

Tribune News Service

Harshraj Singh

Ludhiana, July 11

After Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced that no textile park would be set up at the proposed site near Mattewara forest and Sutlej river in district Ludhiana, the environmental activists associated with a public action committee (PAC), while expressing their happiness, said it is a win of the people of Punjab. 

Expressing their concern that if a textile or any other industrial park is setup near Mattewara Forest, known as the lungs of the state it would destroy the forest and chemicals from industry would pollute the Sutlej river flowing nearby, the PAC members had launched an agitation to save the forest, river and its flood plains two years ago.

During the regime of Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government, a plan was introduced to set up a modern industrial park on around 1000 acres of land in Sekhowal, Garhi Fazal and adjoining villages located near Mattewara forest and Sutlej river.

 July 2020

When the then Congress government had to acquire around 416 acres of panchayat land of Sekhowal village for the proposed project, the Sekhowal villagers organised a Gram Sabha meeting in July 2020 and they unanimously signed a resolution that panchayat land would not be given to the government for the proposed industrial park. At the same time in July 2020, environmental activists and members of various NGOs had formed a public action committee to save the Mattewara forest and the nearby Sutlej river.

August 2020

Notably, AAP leaders, including the then Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha, Harpal Singh Cheema and deputy leader Sarvjit Kaur Manuke had visited Sekhowal village on August 1, 2020, extending their support to the villagers against the government's plan to acquire the land. Meanwhile, AAP leader Bhagwant Mann had then also raised questions over the proposed project near the forest area.

However, the Congress government had later managed to acquire the panchayat land of Sekhowal village. Accusing the then government and local administration of acquiring Sekhowal's panchayat land forcibly, a number of villagers led by Kashmir Singh of Sekhowal had moved the local court and then Punjab and Haryana High Court against the government's action.

These villagers, who belonged to SC community, had claimed that around 60-70 poor families were dependent on the land that was acquired by the government. The villagers used to grow crops on the land for their sustenance. They had written to the then Chief Minister for not selling plots on acquired land but to no avail.

Meanwhile, PAC member Kapil Arora along with three others had moved National Green Tribunal against the proposed industrial park. Arora had alleged that the government wants to set up the industrial park on Sutlej's flood plain areas by ignoring the rules.

May 2021

In May 2021, NGT then directed the state Chief Secretary to take remedial action for the protection of flood plains.

September 2021

When Charanjeet Singh Channi became the chief minister of Punjab, Sekhowal villagers and PAC members continued their struggle but the proposed project was not cancelled. Ahead of Assembly elections, PAC members along with environmentalists across the state had also organised multiple events, demanding from all political parties to clear their stand on the proposed industrial park near Mattewara forest.

November 2021 

In November 2021, the PAC's agitation got strengthened when noted social activist and environmentalist Medha Patkar (who had led Narmada Bachao Andolan to save the Narmada river) visited Mattewara forest areas and the banks of Sutlej river. Extending her support to the PAC, Medha Patkar appealed to the people to launch 'Jan Andolan' to save Sutlej, Mattewara forest and Buddha Dariya. In December 2021, Medha Patkar, who is associated with the National Alliance of People’s Movement, had also written to the then Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, requesting him to either change the location of or cancel the proposed industrial park project for the protection of Sutlej river and Mattewara forest.

March 2022

After AAP came into power this year, the activists had hoped that the proposed project would be cancelled. But PAC members alleged that the name of the modern industrial park has been changed to Koomkalan Textile park to mislead the people.

They intensified their agitation when the AAP government announced its further plan (during the budget session) to set up the proposed Textile Park. The PAC members then gave a call to the people to join the 'Mattewara Chalo' event on July 10 to save the Mattewara forest, and Sutlej river and its flood plains. 

June 2022

In June 2022, Congress Legislature Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira also questioned over the textile park, which was proposed to be set up near Mattewara forest and Sutlej River. 

July 10, 2022

On July 10, Public Action Committee (PAC) had gained a huge response for its event when the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), the SGPC, farmers’ bodies, in addition to a large number of NGOs working to save the environment came forward and extended their support to save the forest and river.

July 11, 2022

A team of PAC had gone to meet Chief Minister on Monday. After the meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Col CM Lakhanpal (retd) of PAC said that it is a win of the people of Punjab as the Textile park project which was proposed to be set up near Mattewara Forest and Sutlej has been cancelled.

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