Residents to start indefinite protest against treatment plant in Bathinda
Even after local MLA Saroop Chand Singla assured shifting of solid waste treatment plant (SWTP) from residential area, the consortium of residents have decided to sit on protest for indefinite period from October 1 onwards
Even after local MLA Saroop Chand Singla assured shifting of solid waste treatment plant (SWTP) from residential area, the consortium of residents have decided to sit on protest for indefinite period from October 1 onwards.
Jit Singh Joshi, convener of Kuda Dump Hatao Morcha, said the administration and local MLA were playing double standard over the issue, as on one side, they were passing resolutions, but on the other side, the plant management was installing chimneys in the plant.
“We will start protest for indefinite period from October 1 and two of the residents have also proposed to sit on hunger strike unto death,” said Joshi.
On September 21, Singla had brought supplementary agenda before corporation’s general House regarding land purchase for shifting the plant. The House has already passed a resolution to shift the project.
He added the delegation of residents had met deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal thrice but nothing came out of these meetings. “The administration must stop plant’s operations completely, besides initiating procedure to shift the plant at the earliest,” Joshi said.
The consortium had already decided to boycott SAD-BJP candidate in assembly elections, if government fails to consider its demand of shifting the project.
Started as a pilot project at Badals’ home turf, the SWTP faced public ire a week after it started operations on trial basis in January this year.
The foul odour emanating from the plant had forced the management to stop treatment of solid waste with immediate effect then.
The NGT had given environment clearance for the plant in 2014, but the plant which is being operated by New Delhi based JITF Urban Waste Management Company, is creating nuisance in nearby areas. Presently, the plant is only treating 100 tonnes of solid waste collected from Bathinda city.
As per the project, the plant was supposed to get waste from 18 municipalities and treat at least 350 tonnes of waste.