The protest in Jalandhar against the bio-gas/bio-fuel plant that is being set up in Jamsher Khas has gained momentum. The local residents, farmers and leaders have raised their voice and stated that the plant could be dangerous as the area around it is densely populated. The Kisan Union Sidhupur has also flagged concerns about the plant’s gate.
The farmer leaders say that there are two gates being constructed for the plant, of which one gate is being built towards the market, that the farmer leaders believe is completely wrong. The farmers claim that the construction of this gate must be stopped or else this could put a very bad effect on the surrounding market and ruin it. Adding to this the farmers have also expressed their objection to the pollution that will be caused by the plant in the area. As a protest against the plant, the Kisan Union Sidhupur has earlier called for blocking the Amritsar-Delhi Highway on February 1, but the call for this protest was withdrawn keeping in view the Guru Ravidass Jayanti and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab.
Now, the farmers have warned to block the highway on February 2 (Monday). As per reports, the farmers will sit on highway at the cut leading to Paragpur before Lovely University at 12 PM and block the traffic in protest. The farmers have claimed that they would not budge from the highway until the government accepts their demands.
One of the most prominent reasons as to why the protests are taking place against the set up of this plant is the fear of health problems and pollution that the plant is going to cause. The local residents believe that the gas and the waste that would be produced from the plant could poise serious health concerns and spread illnesses, such as cancer. The locals claim that the plant would also cause a lot of air pollution. Another major reason why the locals and farmers are opposing the plant is the fear of fodder market being destroyed due to this plant that is being built on the land of the fodder market in the Jamsher Dairy Complex. The farmers claim that this plant is going to eliminate the space for storing fodder and would ultimately affect the dairy business the area. The residents share their poor experience with the sewage treatment plant, as people are dealing with foul smell and dirt issues due to this solid waste management and sewage treatment plant. The locals believe that these issues will exacerbate in the new plant as well. Bad experience with the sewage treatment plant: In Jamsher, people are already facing problems of foul smell and dirt due to the existing solid waste management and sewage treatment plant. They fear that the new plant will exacerbate this problem.