‘Govt firm on shifting 4 solid waste treatment plants’
Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Sunday reiterated his government’s commitment to relocating four solid waste treatment (SWT) plants in Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Patiala.
Talking to the media during his visit to Bathinda (urban) assembly segment on Sunday, Manpreet said a site selection committee constituted by the Punjab government is looking for sites where SWT plants of Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Patiala will be shifted.
He hoped that the committee will submit its report within two months.
He said two tentative sites each of 50 acres have been identified for shifting the Bathinda plant. The Bathinda plant could not start functioning due to opposition by locals.
The residents of areas in the vicinity of the Bathinda SWT plant staged a protest here on Sunday, demanding shifting of plant.
Responding to the a query on the protest, he said, “It might take two-three months as it’s an important task and should not be done in haste. But it will be done,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jeet Singh Joshi, coordinator of the committee steering the protest demanding shifting of the Bathinda plant, said that in the July 26 hearing in the tribunal, the Punjab government should clearly say that they want to shift the plant.
NGT DIRECTIVE TO PUNJAB
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Punjab government to engage all stakeholders before operationalising various plants.
In its order on July 12, the tribunal asked the Punjab chief secretary to hold a meeting with all stakeholders within a week and make recommendations and suggestions in view of the entire facts and circumstances and ensure that plants which have been set up start functioning effectively without further delay.
The tribunal has also asked the government to explain why its order of November 25, 2014 regarding setting up of plants has not been complied with. The government will present its report in next hearing on July 26.