Environmentalists stand up to industrial park in Mattewara

Ludhiana: Huge resentment is brewing among social activists, environmentalists and politicians ever since Punjab cabinet approved the setting up of 1000 acres industrial park in Mattewara. People are raising a hue and cry on social media as they are fearing that government will use the land of Mattewara forest area for this project and destroy this forest, which has a variety of wildlife and rare flora and fauna.
However, as of now the state government has not cleared about any such plans but according to information available with TOI, out of the approximate 1000 acres which will be used for the indusrial park, 207.07 acres belonged to animal husbandry department, 285.1 acres to rehabilitation department (potato seed farm), 416.1 acres land belongs to gram panchayat Sekhowal, while 27.1 acres is of gram panchayat Salempur (potato seed farm) and 20.3 acres is of gram panchayat, Sailklan.
According to social activist and environmentalist Kuldeep Khaira, who is going to start a campaign against the industrial park, “We are totally against setting up of industrial park at the cost of Mattewara forest as the result of destroying this forest will be devastating and it will be impossible to reverse the impact it will have on our environment. Earlier, also thousands of trees were uprooted from the Ludhiana during the expansion work of the roads and citizens were misled that the uprooted trees will be planted in Mattewara forest, which never happened and now they want to eat this forest as well. Earlier, politicians ate “reta bajri” (Sand and stone) now they are hungry to eat the wood of Mattewara forest. But we will not let this happen at any cost and we are starting a social media movement against this. We are already getting huge support from all over Punjab.”
According to Ravneet Singh of NGO Eco Sikh, “It is very disturbing to hear that Punjab government is planning to use Mattewara Forest area for industrial expansion. Our state badly needs more green space as the pollution and health risks are rising at an alarming rate. We should preserve and expand forest area rather than finish it. There is only 4% forest area left in the state and in fact, in 2014, Punjab government had decided to preserve and expand Mattewara forest and to develop that as a wildlife refuge. Therefore, we appeal to chief minister Amarinder Singh to please reconsider this decision. We are committed to increasing forest area in Punjab and would be happy to work with Punjab government.”
APS Mann, retired professor, said, “It is duty of people of Ludhiana and Punjab to save Mattewara jungle. Already the water bodies of Ludhiana, Sutlej and Buddah Nullah have been destroyed and now this last remaining forest too is on the verge of destruction. If the need arises we should not refrain from starting the “Chipko” movement to save this precious forest. Moreover, why only Mattewara is being targeted when we have availability of land for industrial parks in other areas of the city as well. If we fail to act now and save Mattewara forest the future generations will never pardon us therefore we must act before its too late.”