HC issues notice on Adampur MLA’s plea against Bio-CNG plant in Jalandhar

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice of motion to the State of Punjab on a petition filed by Adampur MLA Sukhwinder Singh against the construction of a Bio-CNG plant on the land of Bhogpur Cooperative Sugar Mills Limited in Jalandhar.

The petitioner through counsel Nikhil Ghai contended that preventing the project from coming up was essential to protect the lives of Bhogpur village residents and curb environmental pollution. He contended that the proposed plant was being constructed just 100 m from the abadi area, where a large number of people – including those from marginalised sections such as daily wagers and small shopkeepers – resided.

The petition, taken up by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, stated that the villagers were “distressed and severely affected” due to already existing pollution caused by the sugar mill. The MLA submitted that the additional environmental burden from the Bio-CNG plant would worsen the situation, creating unhygienic, inhuman, and dangerous conditions for the residents.

Ghai added that the authorities had ignored the concerns raised by the villagers regarding the future health risks and environmental hazards the plant posed. The next date of hearing has now been fixed for May 26.