Local residents and farmer groups on Monday staged a strong protest against the proposed biogas plant at the fodder market inside the Jamsher Dairy Complex, expressing concerns over health, pollution and the impact on farmers, reports The Tribune.
Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh joined the protest and opposed the construction of the plant at the proposed site. He said setting up a biogas plant inside the fodder market was unacceptable and stressed that it should be moved outside the village in the interest of public health. He urged the Municipal Corporation and the government to review their decision and warned that a larger protest would be launched if the plan was not withdrawn.
Pargat Singh said the Jamsher Dairy Complex has remained neglected for years, causing hardship to nearby residents. He said the Municipal Corporation has failed to properly develop the complex, and people in the area have been suffering for more than a decade. He recalled that public opposition had earlier stopped a solid waste management plant from coming up at the site and alleged that the government was once again risking public health.
He also said that building the biogas plant in the fodder market would make the area unusable and deprive farmers of essential storage space for fodder. He added that a detailed study should be conducted before any such project is approved and said the plant should be installed only after meeting all required norms. He said he stood firmly with the people of Jamsher village.
Adampur MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, who was also present at the protest, said he has been opposing the construction of a CNG plant in Bhogpur for the past two years due to safety and health concerns. He said he has not allowed that project to move forward and extended his support to those opposing the biogas plant in Jamsher.
Farmer leader Kulwinder Singh issued a warning to the Municipal Corporation and the government, saying that if the decision was not withdrawn, protesters would dismantle the structure on January 23. He said a committee would soon be formed to mobilise residents from surrounding areas and added that farmers and villagers would remain united and continue their protest until their demands were met.
