PROTEST AGAINST SOLID WASTE PLANT NR SRIGANGANAGAR TURNS VIOLENT

Raj Sadosh/Sriganganagar/Abohar.

A peaceful protest, ongoing for three months against the forced imposition of a solid waste disposal plant without the consent of local villagers, suddenly turned violent today. A massive crowd of villagers completely demolished the fencing, pillars, and iron gates installed at the plant site.

A ‘Jan Mahapanchayat’ was organized today by the struggle committee at the plant site near the gaushala in Narsinghpur Barani village. About three thousand villagers attended the gathering including Congress District President and Srikaranpur MLA Rupinder Singh Ruby, CPI(M) leaders Sheopat Ram Meghwal, Ravinder Tarkhan, Sukhbir Singh Fauji, and Mehanga Singh Sidhu.

Administrative officials held talks with the office-bearers of the struggle committee. The officials involved in the dialogue included Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rameshwar Lal, SDM Rajinder Singh, Tehsildar Surya Prakash Swami, and DSP Pushpinder Singh. The committee directly asked whether there was any written order stating that the plant would not be set up. The administrative officials replied that there was no such order and that they had come merely for a discussion. In response, the committee ended the talks.

The massive crowd suddenly surged towards the plant site. Although police forces were already deployed on the dirt tracks, the villagers took the administration by surprise by reaching the site through the fields. The agitated crowd completely destroyed the fencing, pillars, and gates. Using tractors, they dragged the fencing away and discarded it. About a hundred police personnel and officials could not take effective measures to stop the destruction.

Upon receiving news of the incident, Superintendent of Police (SP) Hari Shankar Yadav arrived at the site. Anticipating a potential blockade on National Highway-62, a heavy police force was deployed there as well. Villagers argue that the waste plant will pollute the surrounding agricultural land, water, and air.