Zira agitation: Won't deal with govt till FIRs cancelled, say protesting farmers

Ferozepur, December 23

Famers, protesting against a distillery-cum-ethanol manufacturing plant in Zira, refused to join members of three fact-finding committees that visited Mansurwala village to collect samples of groundwater today.

Won’t budge from stand

On the one hand, the police are booking and arresting them and, on the other, the government wants us to join talks and help the fact-finding teams. This is impossible. Gurmail Singh, Protester

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Protesting farmers have alleged that ethanol plant has polluted the groundwater in the district, resulting in the outbreak of diseases and death of cattle.

The Sanjha Morcha, comprising farmers, had earlier proposed the names of two of their members for each of the three committees.

Farmers, however, refused to join the members of the health, animal husbandry and soil testing committees when they reached the village. The state government has formed the committees in view of farmers’allegation of groundwater contamination by the ethanol manufacturing plant.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Arun Sharma, who accompanied the teams, met the protesters and urged them to join the committee members or at least tell them the places from where samples could be taken.

Sanjha Morhca members, including Surjit Singh Phul, Gurmail Singh Sarpanch, Jasbir Singh Piddi and Roman Brar, said they would not join the fact-finding teams till the FIRs registered against the protesters were withdrawn.

“On the one hand, the police are registering FIRs against farmers and arresting them and, on the other, the government wants us to join discussions and help the fact-finding teams. This is impossible. Release our people first, then we will join the proceedings,” said Gurmail Singh.

Another protester Harinder Singh said, “Farmers don’t trust the committee comprising members of the Punjab Pollution Control Board.”

Deputy Commissioner Amrit Singh said the committee members would camp in Zira for three days to collect samples and hear the grievances of people belonging to a cluster of 44 villages that are part of the protest.