Dr Surjit Patar resents move to set up industrial park near Sutlej and Mattewara Forest

Ludhiana, August 10

As the government has proposed to set up a modern industrial park near the Sutlej and Mattewara Forest, Padma Shri awardee poet Dr Surjit Patar visited the area and expressed his resentment against the sale of eco-sensitive prime land for industrial growth in the state.

During his visit along with social and environmental activists Ranjodh Singh, Manjinder Singh Bawa, advocate JS Sandhu, MS Grewal, Ashwinder Sethi, Karan Jain, Prof Bhupinder Pattar, Rajinder Kaur, Patar met various residents of Sekhewal, Machhian Kalan and Mattewara villages to express solidarity with local residents, who will be badly affected with the decision.

Ranjodh said: “The NGT has already earmarked floodplains along river beds to stop further erosion. Moreover, the flora and fauna of the forest will be completely destroyed in the wake of the upcoming textile and dyeing industrial park in the vicinity of the prime natural reserves.” — TNS