Here is why NGOs, locals are opposing the mega Mattewara textile park in Punjab
India Today
A group of NGOs, on Sunday, protested against the proposed textile park near Mattewara village in Punjab’s Ludhiana. NGOs fear the project will pollute the Sutlej river besides killing fauna and flora. Religious leaders oppose it as the Mattewara forest is of religious importance.
Located near Ludhiana, Mattewaravillage is in the news following the state government's plan to set-up a textile park here. The then Captain Amrinder Singh government, in July 2020, approved this project which will be setup over 955.67 acres of land.
The state government is, however, facing stiff opposition from the locals and NGOs. A local panchayat has also passed a resolution to not allow the transfer of panchayat land to the industrial park. Out of a total 955.67 acres, 463 acres belong to three village panchayats.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, during the recent Budget session, had informed the house that 493 acres of land had already been acquired by paying compensation. Over 492 acres of land belongs to the state government.
A group of NGOs, who have formed a Public Action Committee (PAC) to oppose the textile park, held a protest in Mattewaraon on Sunday to assert themselves. The activists slammed the AAP government for its flip-flops on the issue.
“They are playing in the hands of the corporates. We will not let it happen. Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders were collecting funds from the industrialists before the elections and were now selling industrial plots to them at throwaway prices," said professor Manjit Singh, a well known political activist, while addressing the protesters.
The environment and river water pollution are the primary concerns.
The Mattewaratextile park is being primarily opposed for two big reasons. One, the possible damage that the affluents released from the textile industries will cause to the river water and ecology, and second, the sanctity of the Mattewaraforest range.
