Protest against ethanol plant completes 3 years

In one of the longest protests in Punjab, the Sanjha Morcha agitation against an ethanol plant at Mansurwala in Ferozepur district over groundwater contamination has completed three years.

Members of Sanjha Morcha have resolved to take their agitation to its logical conclusion.

The protest had started on July 24, 2022, when a few villagers belonging to Mahiawala Kalan observed that during the drilling of a borewell near a village gurdwara, some toxic substance started oozing out from the ground.

Later, the villagers alleged that the plant run by Malbros International Private Limited in the area was discharging harmful effluents into the ground. The matter has been hanging fire notwithstanding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announcing the state government decision to close the plant. Later, the plant authorities had moved a court.

On Thursday, the members of the Sanjha Morcha held a religious ceremony in front of the main gate of the plant. Hundreds of villagers, along with members of various organisations, including farmers’ unions, joined the protesters.

Thakur Singh (82) and his wife Ranjit Kaur (84), both residents of Mansurwala village, said they had been sitting at the protest site right from day one. “We even celebrated festivals, including Baisakhi and Diwali, at the protest site,” said Thakur, adding that their stir was important for the well-being of the future generations.

Roman Brar, a morcha member, said despite all claims, the government had not issued any written orders to date to close the plant.

In March 2023, a CPCB team in its report said none of the 29 samples taken from the area were “potable”.