The fight for, the Mattewara textile project whichPunjab Government scrapped in Ludhiana earlier today, was on for two years. FiveEnvironment Activists from Punjab, Jaskirat Singh, Dr. Amandeep Singh Bains, Colonel CM Lakhanpal (retd), Kuldeep Khaira, and Kapil Dev Arora were leading this battleand fought against the government till the National Green Tribunal. Now theyhave saved 1000 acres of forest and the Satluj River from becoming a drain.
Thehistory of the Mattewara movement:
Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab government ina cabinet meeting in June 2020 gave their consent for the construction of atextile park on 1000 acres of land and passed a budget of 800 crores in theVidhan Sabha. As soon as the news broke out Public Action Committee wasestablished, and a campaign after ‘Save Mattewara Forest’ against thegovernment was launched.
Challengingthe Government’s Master Plan:
The place where Mattewara textile in Ludhiana wassupposed to be set up was earmarked under ‘No Construction Zone’. Despite knowingthis the government advanced the proposal to amend the Ludhiana master plan.Objection from the public was demanded in this regard. As far as this news broke outthe PAC reached Mohali situated Puda headquarters and registered theirobjection against the proceedings. Ignoring the entire episode governmentamended the master plan.
Theproceedings were challenged in the NGT after the government’s rejection:
After the government denied it, the PAC challenged thecase in NGT. On this, the NGT ordered the Chief Secretary of Punjab to demarcate theland where the textile was to be made? Whether such industry can be made onthis land or not, another question of whether the industry will affect thenatural flow of the Satluj River during rainy seasons was asked? NGT made it clearthat the natural flow of the river must not be hindered. The government didnothing about it.
Against the hyper action of the Centre:
TheActivists thought the government will stop the work, meanwhile, the CentralTextile Minister and other senior officials visited the site. The central teaminformed this project has been taken up for the ‘PM MITRA’ scheme and a majortextile park will be established here, to which PAC came back in the action andreached NGT again and complained that no demarcation has been done yet based onyour orders and further paper and groundwork has been started. Under the supervisionof DC Ludhiana, a committee was established but they haven’t submitted anyreport.
Theinaction of AAP after coming to power:
A green manifesto was distributed against thisproject, and AAP stood in favor of this protest. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann,Kultar Sandhwa, Harpal Cheema, Sarvjit Manuke, and other leaders were againstthis project. When AAP came to power they believed the project will be haltedbut this didn’t happen.
WhenActivists went head-on against the Officers:
Amid all this, on June 23rd the villagersof Sekhowal informed the agitators about the incident when the officers linkedwith the project came and asked the villagers not to work on their farm. They weretrying to take over the lands of the people. It was known to the Activists thatonce they take over the land the protest will get weak. They mobilized around50 villagers on the site but officers didn’t come.
CMhighlighted the concern about the project in Vidhan Sabha:
The issue was raised in the last week of June duringthe Vidhan Sabha session. CM Bhagwant Mann said the work is still on in theproject. He highlighted that this pollution factory won’t be constructed here. Thesame apprehension was among the activist that this textile factory will pollutethe Satluj River.
Mattewara‘Jan Aandolan’ and the Government in action:
The activists launched an attack against the government.They highlighted their concern about the project’s proceedings in press conferences.On July, 10th they announced their next plan of action by demonstrating,which was joined by all the parties except BJP and the ruling AAP, thedemonstration was attended by several common people as well. Taking note of thescenario the project was scrapped by CM Bhagwant Mann.
Reminderfor the AAP leaders on social media:
Social Media played a too crucial role in the entireprotest. Besides CM several local leaders from AAP in Punjab extended theirsupport for the protest before the election. But, when the project was still onafter they took the office, the activist started sending them reminders oftheir statements.