Residents from around 20 villages staged a protest outside the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner’s office yesterday, opposing the establishment of a biogas plant in Goh village. The protest included residents from Bhundari, Akhara, Ghungrali, Manupur, Goh, Rajputan, and Mushkabad villages, reported The Tribune.
In Ghungrali Rajputan near Khanna, residents have been protesting against an operational biogas plant for a while, asserting that authorities have not taken any steps to shut it down or revoke its licenses.
Pal Singh, the sarpanch of Goh, expressed that their protest has intensified due to the apparent lack of response from the state government. He emphasized that the rapid construction of biogas plants in villages could escalate pollution levels, negatively affecting residents’ health. Additionally, he warned of potential health hazards such as increased risks of cancer, heart disease, and skin disorders for both nearby villagers and residents.
The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) has lent their support to the protesting farmers. Saudagar Singh, the district general secretary, highlighted that despite prolonged protests by residents, the government has shown little concern for their grievances.
Notably, six villages—Bhundri, Gajipur, Ghungrali Rajputan, Kishangarh, Nawan Pind, and Mushkadbad—boycotted the LS polls in protest against the proposed biogas plants. It is worth mentioning that ongoing protests are already underway in several villages, including Bhundari, Akhara, Ghungrali Rajputan, and Mushkabad.
