Ludhiana: The New Year has brought relief to all parties involved in the proposed compressed biogas plant (CBP) at a factory in Mushkabad village near Khanna, with villagers on Thursday agreeing to allow the project to move ahead after prolonged discussions with the authorities. Following sustained efforts by the state government and district administration, residents gave their consent for the installation of the plant and marked the occasion by holding a Sukhmani Sahib path to show their support, reports The Tribune.
Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said the development was a significant breakthrough, as concerns raised by residents had been addressed to their satisfaction. He said discussions between the factory owner and villagers had helped resolve misunderstandings, and work on the biogas plant was expected to begin soon, with the facility likely to be set up over the next few months.
Samrala Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rajneesh Arora said the dispute had persisted since 2023, with villagers and the factory owner locked in opposition over the proposed project. He said all required no-objection certificates had already been issued by relevant departments, and the state government had supported the project due to its wider benefits. A committee comprising experts from institutions such as PGI, AIIMS, IIT and Punjab Agricultural University was formed to study the concerns raised by villagers. After detailed consultations and clarifications, residents agreed to allow the plant to be set up at the original site.
The compressed biogas plant was proposed after the factory owner secured clearances from key departments. However, villagers had strongly opposed the plan, citing fears of health risks including cancer, possible groundwater pollution from toxic substances, and foul odours. Protests were held outside the factory, forcing a halt to its operations.
Although the plant aimed to address the issue of stubble burning by using crop residue, opposition spread to nearby villages such as Ghungrali Rajputan, Akhara and Mushkabad. This led to repeated shutdowns, tense situations and clashes with the police, even as the government attempted to mediate through multiple meetings with stakeholders.
Following these confrontations, the factory owner approached the court, stating that substantial investment had already been made in the project. The High Court later issued time-bound directions, prompting the government to form expert committees to examine the concerns related to pollution and health. After several months of review and dialogue, villagers finally gave their approval on Thursday, clearing the way for the biogas plant to begin operations.
