Polls, Pargat on mind, Sukhbir waters down waste plant stand

JALANDHAR: With the aim to not let Pargat Singh go to the people as a martyr in the next assembly polls, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has softened his stand on the proposed waste management pant in former’s constituency.

The residents living in the area near the plant site had been opposing it tooth and nail and they had the support of MLA Pargat Singh, who was suspended by the Shiromani Akali Dal from the party mainly because of his opposition to the project.

The government now says it will go ahead with the project at Jamsher village in Jalandhar Cantonment segment only if the residents give their consent.

“The plant will come up only if people want it. We won’t force it on them. The government will again go to the people to know their apprehensions. Only public view will prevail,” deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal told HT during his recent visit to the city.

He said Pargat’s opposition to the plant was just a political gimmick as he opposed the project when the groundwork was near complete.

Even as this plant is termed as the pet project of Sukhbir, his latest stand is seen as a damagecontrol exercise ahead of the assembly polls.

“Pargat is set to contest the next assembly polls from some other party. He will project himself as a martyr before the public as he faced suspension from Shiromani Akali Dal for opposing the project. We have to go by public opinion ahead of the crucial polls,” said a senior SAD leader.

The Jindal Urban Waste Management Jalandhar Limited (JUWMJL)—the company that was awarded the project has already run away as the government has failed to act as per the agreement.

Sources in the SAD said till the party announced a new ‘halqa’ in-charge for the cantonment constituency, the party will try to even up with Pargat on the issue.

As per the project plan, the solid waste collected from 27 civic bodies falling in Doaba region was to be treated at the plant.

For the SAD-BJP alliance that is ruling most of the local bodies in Doaba , the project is of huge political importance because it will mean an effective waste management, which it can take credit for.

The plant at Jamsher in Jalandhar will come up only if people want it. We won’t force it on them. Public opinion will prevail. SUKHBIR BADAL, deputy chief minister