Residents up in arms against liquor unit

r Correspondent

Fazilka, January 14

Residents of 15 villages are seeing red over the setting up of a liquor plant at Hiranwali village here.

The villagers have formed the “Sharab Factory Virodhi Sangharsh Committee” to take forward their protest. Sarpanches, panches and villagers of Hiranwali, Beganwali, Kikarwala Roopa, Khui Khera, Bodiwala Pitha, Ramkot, Kabulshah Khubban, Kerian, Bandiwala, Banwala Hanuwanta and Jandwala Kharta villages held a protest against the proposed unit. They said they would intensify their agitation if the proposal was not shelved.

Hiranwali village sarpanch Anil Kumar Jhinja said the construction of proposed liquor factory had started on 28 acres in the village. It was being set up by a Congress leader, he said.

Former Fazilka BJP MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani has also opposed the move.

The villagers said toxic waste generated at the plant would lead to environmental pollution. The villagers pledged to go to any extent to get the proposal reversed.