While residents and environmentalists lauded the scrapping of the project opposition has termed this flip flop an evidence of a non-competent government.
“The Punjab government‘s announcement of scrapping the Mattewara project shows this Government’s lack of commitment and the inexperience of the CM. The AAP opposed this project during the tenure of the previous government. The party however went on to implement it when it came to power. The CM even defended it in Vidhan Sabha and has now withdrawn it due to public pressure. This constant flip-flop is an embarrassment and shows the lack of vision on the part of AAP for Punjab.” said leader of Opposing Congress leader Pratap Bajwa.
The controversial project
A Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Park, under the PM-MITRA scheme was being undertaken jointly by the Centre and the state government. Initially it was named as Mattewara Textile Park for its proximity to Mattewara forest but after public outrage, the name was changed. As per the Union Ministry of Textiles, this park was to be one amongst seven such parks that would come up across the country with the objective of sustainable industrialisation that does not harm the environment to “meet the United Nations sustainable development goals.” The 957.74 acres of land was acquired so far, falling near the Mattewara forest and on the river Sutlej floodplains. Out of this, 416 acres were allegedly forcefully acquired from the Dalit-majority Sekhowal village despite the Gram Sabha of the village having passed a resolution against it. The acquired land will now be returned.
Mattewara forest and nearby site to be converted to Biodiversity park.
The now cancelled project site touches Mattewara forest from two sides and river Sutlej on one side. Spread over 2,300 acres, the forest is the sole lung of Ludhiana district which is one amongst top polluted districts in India. Punjab is among the states with poorest forest cover with just 3.7 percent of its land under forest. It has minimal untouched forest patches scattered across Punjab and Mattewara is one amongst them. The forest is not just rich in flora but also houses several animal and avian species including Peacocks, Sambhar, Antelopes (nilgai), Monkeys, Deers etc.
The government has now announced to set up a biodiversity park which would also include government land diverted for the textile park earlier.
Sutlej Pollution Threat
Not just the forest but environmentalists fear of toxic discharges in Sutlej post setting up of any projects on Sutlej banks. The river is popularly known as the dead river in Punjab owing to high levels of pollution. According to records, the state was disposing of around 2000 kilolitres of wastewater per day in the river in year 2021, apart from the enormous amount of industrial effluents mainly via Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana. There are 2423 industries in the river Sutlej catchment area, which either directly or indirectly release their trade effluent into Sutlej. Buddha Nala is the district’s oldest rivulet and one of key channels of Sutlej pollution. The water in the nullah is rich in toxins and merges with Sutlej making it highly polluted. The polluted water has been recognised as a key reason behind the high number of cancer patients across the river course which runs across the Malwa region till Rajasthan. The water is being used directly or indirectly by many for crop irrigation, household works, and for drinking.
