After the public protests against the proposed textile park near the Mattewara forest and Sutlej river in Ludhiana, the Punjab Government has decided to scrap the announced project of textile park under Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM-MITRA) scheme.
According to environmentalists, the 1,000-acre project posed threats to the Mattewara forest as well as the river.
The announcement came after Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann held a meeting with members of the Public Action Committee (PAC), a group of environmentalists and members of the civil society who had been opposing the project.
Also Read: Activists in Punjab urge to shift the prospective park under PM MITRA scheme
“I would categorically like to announce that the State Government will not allow any industry to come up not only in Mattewara, but also on the river banks of Punjab to avoid any sort of water pollution,” the Punjab CM said.
The proposed textile park was being primarily opposed for two big reasons. One, the possible damage that the affluents released from the textile industries will cause to the river water and ecology, and the other being the sanctity of the Mattewara forest range.
On 10 July, thousands of people, including politicians, members of farmers’ unions, student leaders and NGO protested against this project.
Also Read: No river pollution will be allowed in the proposed PM MITRA park: Punjab Government
As per reports, out of the 955 acres identified for the project, 416 acres were forcefully acquired from the Sekhowal village despite the Gram Sabha of the village having passed a resolution against it.
The Government said that its land will be used for a biodiversity park and the acquired land will be returned to villagers.
