People Power Compels Punjab Government to Scrap Industrial Project

It was the people's power that came to the fore once again in Punjab. The state government was compelled to scrap the proposed industrial park in the vicinity of the Sutlej river and its flood plains, and the Mattewara protected forest. The decision came on Monday following a meeting of the people's representatives with the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

The state had been on the boil over the issue as it had become a rallying point not only for environmentalists but organisations of farmers, intellectuals, the general population as well as the entire Opposition. This united front was visible at a massive protest near Ludhiana on Sunday where participation cut across various social and political affiliations.

Besides saving the area around the water body and the Mattewara forest, the issue has once again brought to the centre the water woes of Punjab. These include the issue of sharing river waters and the depleting ground water levels. Many agriculture experts feel that the state continues to pay a heavy cost for making India's green revolution a success through its water resources becoming scarce.

Announcing the decision for scrapping the proposed project, Bhagwant Mann said, "the Central government had sent a proposal to the government led by Captain Amarinder Singh for setting up a textile industry, seeking 100 acres of land for the purpose. The 'Captain government' without taking into the consideration the damage it would cause, the displacement that would occur, or how much it would poison the river gave a clearance. When the file came to us again we enquired into it. We found that it would destroy the forest and polluted water would go into the Sutlej."

He said in a video address that was tweeted, "after consultation with the Public Action Committee (PAC) we decided that there would be no industry near Mattewara forest, rather there would be no such industry near any water body in Punjab that dumps polluted water into it."

He said that the state would provide land elsewhere, if there was insistence for setting up the proposed industry, but even there they would have to ensure that the water is not polluted. He said the government was committed to preserve the 'green arteries' of the state by all means.

The recently elected AAP government was being criticised for not stalling the project, although it had reportedly said that the project would not come up on any forest land but on land acquired from various villages. The people construed that a textile park in the vicinity of a water body and a forest obviously meant discharge of pollutants. They also interpret it as a government go ahead for the project saying that if the government was really concerned about the cause it would have scrapped it long before. The AAP leadership had previously called the project ill conceived.

"It is a victory for the entire people of Punjab who stood by us. The government has agreed that only eco-friendly activities will be allowed near water bodies and forests," said Jaskirat Singh of PAC that has been campaigning for saving the Mattewara forest ever since the project was conceived.

People were opposing the project on several counts. They claimed that Sutlej is a direct drinking water supply to South Punjab and eight districts of Rajasthan. Since South Punjab is already struggling with cancer and health issues, the region cannot be put to more risk. They underlined that there should be a sustained effort instead to clean up other drains like Buddha Darya, Kala Sanghian drain, Chitti Bein and Bhattian Drain that are already severely polluting the Sutlej.

They also contended that the flood plains adjacent to the river helped recharge ground water by providing channels of flow between underground aquifers and the river. Any damage to them would harm the riverine ecosystem, lessen groundwater recharge capacity and pose threats of flash floods.

Another important concern being aired was the already falling levels of ground water for decades that is pushing Punjab towards desertification. Any damage to flood plains would reduce quality and quantity of underground water recharge which Punjab cannot afford. Several forests that dot the area such as Mattewara, Jaspal Kadar, Haidar Nagar and Salempur are remnants of large riparian forests along the river Sutlej which have survived land grab from agriculture, industrialization and urbanisation so far. Punjab does not have many forests left and stands at the bottom of national ranking with even Rajasthan being at a better position.

It was being contested that the land acquired for the project was almost zero distance from the water body at Dhussi Bandh and the same was the case in context of the forest areas. Concerns were also raised about the biodiversity and the impact of the proposed project on the flora and fauna besides the air quality. In addition to all this the legality of the land transfer itself was also challenged by the villagers.

Senior Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira tweeted saying, "It's the power of the people that has forced Bhagwant Mann to scrap Textile Park at Mattewara! Congratulations to the brave people of Punjab."

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had come under scathing criticism from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal who hails from Ludhiana. He had said last week, "AAP leaders including Bhagwant Mann have been opposing this project when in opposition. AAP was also in favour of scrapping the project prior to the assembly elections and had also accepted the green manifesto submitted to it on behalf of the PAC which had called for eco-tourism projects. However, after coming in government AAP has made an about turn on this issue."

Grewal had said alternatively eco-friendly projects should be encouraged in keeping with the ecology of the area. He said allowing establishment of a textile park in the area would not only disturb the biodiversity of the protected forest but would also pollute the Sutlej River following discharge of pollutants into the river. "Construction activity will change the character of the area and will also come in the way of recharging of groundwater," he had underlined.

Expressing shock that despite protests from farmers, village panchayats and environmentalists, the government was going ahead with the project, he pointed out that the farmers were understandably perturbed as thousands still depended on the Sutlej river for their drinking water needs. "The land on which the project is to be set up is also the only source of livelihood for many," he said while demanding the project be scrapped and shifted to a new place.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has rued the scrapping of the project terming it as the "most regressive and short sighted decision". "You don't throw away the baby with the bath water," he remarked in a statement reacting to the government decision. Questioning the 'diatribe' launched against the project he clarified that the textile park was not to come up within the Mattewara forest area as was being said but outside it. He disclosed that all environmental concerns had been addressed according to the United Nations guidelines and only then the park was approved.

Amarinder Singh regretted that the AAP government, after initially deciding to go ahead with the project had scrapped it, just because some people opposed it without any justification or without any technical and scientific knowledge about the environment. He said the Ludhiana textile park was one of the seven such parks coming up across the country and was set up with the specific objective of sustainable industrialisation that does not harm the environment according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He said, with such approach no industrialisation can take place in Punjab, which is already scarce of land.

"When Punjab is reeling under such a financial crisis and investments are not coming, such a regressive decision will further discourage the industry from coming here", he observed, while adding, such a crucial decision should not have been taken in such haste.

He pointed out that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had already set up an expert committee to examine the project and objections raised from certain quarters and the government should have waited for its decision. Amarinder Singh also expressed his surprise as to how Bhagwant Mann took a U-turn after supporting the project and had even announced funds for further land acquisition.

On June 28 Bhagwant Mann had said that no river pollution would be allowed in the proposed Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks at Koom Kalan (Ludhiana) and all environmental clearances and norms as fixed by the centre and state pollution control boards would be adhered to.

Replying to a call attention motion by MLA Hardeep Singh Mundian in the state assembly, he had said that the Government of India (GoI) had approved the scheme for setting up of seven PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks (PM MITRA) in partnership with the interested state governments. He categorically said that this project would be subject to all environmental clearances and norms.

Asserting that the environmental laws would be followed to ensure that there is no pollution of river water or any sort of health hazard for the people, he said that the ambitious scheme would help in attracting investments on one hand and opening new vistas of employment for the youth on another.

On July 2, it had been the Speaker of the Punjab assembly Kultar Singh Sandhwan who had written a letter to Bhagwant Mann for saving the Mattewara forest on the banks of river Sutlej in Ludhiana district. He had called for taking concrete steps for increasing the forest cover in Punjab from the present level of 3.67 % to 33 % which is at par with the other states.

Environmentalists argue that forests cover only 1.5% of land. They further contend that 3.67% claimed by the government includes trees that exist outside the forests. Mattewara forest is said to be the longest stretch of forest in central Punjab.

The other forest areas are the ones bordering the Shivalik foothills of Himachal Pradesh.

"Punjab lost its forest cover because of various wrongs that started with the partition, the large-scale migration of the people from one side to the other and its after effects. Without going into that, we need to focus on saving the existing forests and increasing the forest cover," added Jaskirat.

In his letter Sandhwan had thrown his weight behind organisations like

Warrior Moms, Mothers for Clean Air, We Support Our Farms, Bhai Ghanaiya Cancer Roko Sewa Society, Naroa Punjab Manch and other social institutions have given very good suggestions for increasing the forest cover. He said these institutions are raising important issues connected with the environment and forwarding suggestions at regular intervals in order to sensitise the government.

He claimed that the rationale forwarded by such institutions to save Mattewara forest were ignored by the previous governments which is why the destruction of Mattewara forest near Ludhiana and pollution of Sutlej waters looked certain.

The Speaker underlined that it is very important to increase the security cover of trees near the industrial cities. Stemming the tide of diseases such as cancer, lung ailments, asthma etc. being caused due to the water, noise and air pollution, is the primary responsibility of the society and the government, he wrote.