Backed by local leaders,villagers’ protest gains momentum

While Congress leader Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha has cried foul in the decision to acquire land meant for agricultural purpose,the Joint Action Committee (JAC),headed by Akali leader Paramjeet Kaur,has started mobilising residents of the area to lodge their strong protest and opposition before the PPCB during the public hearing session fixed for January 8.

Garcha,who is a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC),alleged that a majority of the land earmarked for the project was purchased by some influential persons recently and now they would reap high dividends with the hefty acquisition award.

Strongly opposing the forcible acquisition of land against the wishes of residents of over two dozen villages,Garcha has demanded a high-level probe into the stakeholders of the land under acquisition.

Accompanied by Congress leader and municipal councillor Kuljit Singh Bedi,the AICC member urged GMADA authorities to identify some other suitable site for the dumping ground.

On the other hand,JAC president Paramjeet Kaur,who is the vice-chairperson of the Kharar Panchayat Samitti,warned GMADA officials against forcible land acquisition and threatened to fight tooth and nail any move in this regard.

Punjab Department of Housing and Urban Development had recently issued a notification under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act,1894,to acquire 58.79 acres of land in the three villages to dump an estimated 80 tonnes of untreated garbage and solid waste daily generated from Mohali’s 2.5 lakh population.

The Collector,Land Acquisition,Punjab Urban Development,Mohali,was directed under Section 17 of the said Act to take possession of 29.46 acres in Rasanheri,24.04 acres in Jhanjeri and 5.28 acres in Swara village.

PPCB has called a meet to gauge public opinion on the project in Swara village on January 8 before giving its final nod to the project.