Work has finally begun to restore operations at the compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Ludhiana district. This progress follows the conclusion of a four-month sit-in by villagers, which ended after intervention from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, reported The tribune.
Mann assured the villagers that the plant will operate as a pollution-free green project, adhering to established regulations. With this assurance, the villagers agreed to end their protest and allow the plant to resume its activities.
This development is particularly significant as the plant will process paddy straw generated during the ongoing kharif harvesting season. During a visit to the facility this morning, it was clear that the villagers had lifted their protest, and efforts were underway to clear the press mud that had been dumped on the premises in preparation for operations involving paddy straw, cattle dung, and Napier grass.
“A fresh application for consent to operate will be submitted, after which environmental authorities will inspect the site and grant approval for resuming operations,” a senior official told The Tribune.
The CBG plant, established by Farm Gas Private Limited, began operations in 2022 as a green project intended to use only paddy straw, cattle dung, and Napier grass. However, it was later discovered that press mud was also being used as a feedstock, resulting in unpleasant odors affecting the village and surrounding areas.
In response to what they deemed environmental pollution, the villagers initiated an indefinite protest in May, which ultimately led to the plant’s closure. This protest forced the withdrawal of the plant’s consent to operate, halting its operations.
As the paddy harvesting season approached, the state government conducted several meetings with a coordination committee formed by the protesters and local elders. They later organized discussions with experts in fields such as agriculture, oncology, and chemical engineering to address the villagers’ pollution concerns.
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