The call by the Public Action Committee (PAC) to support the cancellation of the proposed mega textile park adjoining Mattewara protected forest on the bank of Sutlej has received a huge response from citizens across Punjab. A large number of people gathered at one place to send a strong message to the ruling government against the proposal to set up the textile industry.
Concerned citizens from across the state participated in the event in large numbers, which also saw the participation of farm unions and senior leaders of various political parties.
PAC has been demanding to scrap this industrial park project ever since it was announced by the Captain Amarinder Singh government, citing grave environmental concerns given the proximity of the Mattewara Forest and the Sutlej. Recently, the project was discussed in Vidhan Sabha where CM Bhagwant Mann shared an update on the progress of this project, which resulted in a huge backlash. Videos of senior AAP leaders of Punjab, who made strong statements against setting up the said textile park before elections, went viral on social media after the Chief Minister›s announcement.
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, “I attended the PAC-sponsored ‘Dharna’ at Mattewara today and vehemently opposed the setting up of a textile park by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann government that will ruin our forest, pollute Satluj and destroy our environment. We will continue to oppose this until the government withdraws its anti-Punjab decision.”
Environmentalists say that the Mattewara forest is the only forest in Central Punjab and putting up an industrial park right next to it will kill the forest. They also point to the proximity of the proposed site to the river Sutlej, which is already heavily polluted and which they fear will get worse. The construction of industries will also damage the flood plains of Sutlej, which recharge groundwater for Punjab.