5 big faces of environmental lovers in Punjab: Who saved 1000 acres of forest from deforestation, Sutlej river also saved from becoming a dirty drain

The Punjab government on Monday canceled the Mattewada Textile Park project in Ludhiana, which was fighting for the last two years. It was led by 5 environment lovers from Punjab Jaskirat Singh, Dr. Amandeep Singh Bains, retired Col CM Lakhanpal, Kuldeep Khaira and Kapil Dev Arora.

To save the environment, these five people fought from the government to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The war that started from the time of Congress government also went on in the government of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Now he saved 1000 acres of forest and the Sutlej river passing by from becoming a dirty drain.

This is how the war to save Matewada started
The Congress government led by Captain Amarinder Singh held a cabinet meeting in June 2020. In which an announcement was made by approving the textile park on 1000 acres in Mattewada. Then the budget of about 800 crores was passed in the assembly. When this came to light, a Public Action Committee (PAC) was formed immediately. After which the war to save the environment started with the government in the name of ‘Save Mattewada Forest’.

Challenged the government’s master plan amendment
The place where the textile park was to be set up in Mattewada of Ludhiana district used to come under the no construction zone. Knowing this, the government issued a proposal for amendment in the master plan of Ludhiana. Public objections were sought against it. On coming to know about this, the PAC reached the PUDA headquarters in Mohali. Where to file the objection. Ignoring them, the government revised the master plan.

Environment lover present with CM Bhagwant Mann, after meeting with whom Mattewada Textile Park project was canceled.

If the government does not agree, then challenged in NGT
If the government did not agree, the PAC went to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). On this, the NGT asked the Chief Secretary of Punjab to get this place demarcated. Whether such industry can be set up here or not. It was also asked that if the natural flow of the Sutlej river comes in the rainy season, will the industry affect it? The NGT made it clear that the natural flow path of the river should not be damaged. The government did nothing of the sort.

If the center was shown to be working fast, then went to NGT
Environment lovers thought that now the government will stop it but it did not happen. Meanwhile, senior officers of the Central Textile Ministry came to visit there. He said that it has been selected under PM Mitra scheme. Mega Textile Park will be built at this place. On knowing this, the PAC became active again and NGT reached. There it was told that neither the government got the demarcation done. On the contrary, they have started working on paper work and ground level. On the orders of NGT, a committee was formed under the leadership of DC Ludhiana but they did not submit the report itself.

Did not give up struggle even in elections, made Green Manifesto
Meanwhile, the assembly elections came in 2022. The Code of Conduct came into force in January. Seeing this, environmental lovers made a Green Manifesto. Which was led by Padma Shri environmentalist Sant Balbir Seechewal. This was given to all the parties. Aam Aadmi Party was against this project.

If you won the election, the project was expected to be canceled but it did not happen.
On behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party, many leaders including Bhagwant Mann, Kultar Sandhwa, Harpal Cheema and Sarvjit Manuke said that they are against the project. When AAP won 92 seats out of 117 in the Viss elections, environmentalists were convinced that the project would now be cancelled, but it did not happen.

People gathered against deforestation in Mattewada on Sunday.

Suddenly the officers who came to take possession came to protest
Meanwhile, on June 23, the villagers of Sekhowal called the environment lovers. He said that the officers are saying that the land should not be cultivated. To take possession of their land soon. Environmentalists knew that if the officers took possession, its opposition would be weakened. So he reached the village with about 50 companions. However, the officers did not come.

CM talked about starting the project in the assembly
Meanwhile, the issue came up in the Punjab Legislative Assembly in the last week’s session of June. Then CM Bhagwant Mann said that work is going on on this project. He definitely said that there will be no pollution-based textile industry. Although the engineers involved in environmental lovers knew that if there is a textile industry, then there is bound to be pollution. Due to which the Sutlej will be polluted.

Save Mattewada, the government swung into action
After this environmental lovers opened a front against the government. He opposed the whole matter by holding a press conference. Then on July 10, the demonstration was announced. This demonstration took place yesterday, in which representatives of all parties except Aam Aadmi Party and BJP reached. A large number of common people also came to save the forest. After which today CM Bhagwant Mann called a meeting and canceled the project.

If AAP forgets then reminds me on social media
The role of social media was also important in bringing the conflict to an end. Apart from CM Bhagwant Mann, many AAP leaders had given statements against the project before the elections. When the project continued even in his government, his old statements started trending on social media. After which the government also found it difficult to answer.