3 April
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
In a fervent display of resistance, villagers from ten surrounding villages near Mushakabad in Samrala staged a sit-in protest, permanently blocking the Chandigarh-Ludhiana National Highway. The uproar stemmed from vehement opposition to the establishment of a biogas plant within the village limits. Concerns over potential health hazards and environmental degradation fueled the protest, drawing participation from farmers, political leaders, and even members of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Villagers vehemently argued that the proposed plant posed significant risks to their community, citing fears of disease proliferation and heightened pollution levels in their green zone area. They highlighted the potential catastrophic consequences of gas leakage, especially with a residential area nearby. The protesters demanded a complete halt to the construction and urged the government to relocate such industrial initiatives to designated industrial sectors.
Amidst the blockade, villagers remained resolute, vowing to keep the highway closed until their demands were met. The standoff underscores the clash between developmental ambitions and grassroots concerns over public health and environmental sustainability. As tensions escalate, the fate of the biogas plant hangs in the balance, caught between governmental agendas and community resistance.