Zira Stir: Tikait visits Mansurwala, appeals to government to make strict law against polluting factories

Zira Stir: Tikait visits Mansurwala, appeals to government to make strict law against polluting factories

Wherever there is atrocity, there will be dharna: Tikait

Ferozepur, December 27, 2022:  Samyukt Kisan Morcha leader Rakesh Tikait  today visited the Mansurwal village to support the protesters  along with Ruldu Singh Mansa, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, State Secretary Bhakiu Lakhowal, Pingalwara Sanstha Amritsar chief Bibi Inderjit Kaur and leaders of various organizations arrived, who also o fully supported the protest.

Zira – a sub division of Ferozepur district has become the epicentre of a prolonged protest against an ethanol factory that is allegedly polluting ground water in nearby 40 villages where the protests are going since July 24 when the movement was started by a handful villagers. The protest has now turned a state wide movement against the Malbros International Private Limited of polluting the ground water.  The factory is controlled by the family of liquor businessman and former SAD MLA Deep Malhotra.

What began as a small movement by a handful of villagers on July 24 has turned into a state wide movement in the past few days, since the Punjab police made an attempt to forcefully lift the dharna outside the factory.

Speaking on occasion, Tikait said, there is a need to make a strict law against the polluting the underground water and environment by the factories s that no one would this in the fjture.  He appealed to the protesters to continue with the protest as a united force but they should remain conscious as number of offers would be given to end the protest but till such time there is a concrete and acceptable solution, the protest will continue. The contaminated water that should have been put in the treatment plant, found under the earth, for which punishment should be given according to law. SKM are with the front in the fight against pollution of air, water and land.

He further said that wherever the industry is established, the government should monitor it and water pollution is the most dangerous, and people should fight against such wrong doings.   He said the committees cannot set the things right, the water has become contaminated because of only the liquor factory in the area. Wherever there is atrocity, there will be dharnas, he added.

Talking on this occasion, the state president of Punjab Kisan Union Ruldu Singh Mansa said that the leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal Badal call themselves sympathizers of Sikhs and drinking alcohol is considered a sin in Sikhism, but for political gain, the government of that time, laid the foundation stone of liquor factory which is very unfortunate.  However, the subsequent governments did not pay attention but now people are suffering from diseases and we demand the closure of the factory otherwise the protest will continue.

Bibi Inderjit Kaur, Director of Pingalwara Institute, Amritsar, who also visited today along with others said that water and air are being polluted by all the alcohol factories or other factories in Punjab and the existence of human being is water and air, which should not be polluted and the government should take strong action against the factories polluting the water, air and environment.  She also gave a call to unite and fight against the wrong doers otherwise the coming time will be terrible.