Dr Surjit Patar echoes for environmental issues
He is an eminent poet, thinker and President of Punjab Art Council
cityairnews
Aug 10, 2021 08:15
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Ludhiana: In wake of the announcement by Punjab Government to convert natural agricultural and fertile land of Mattewara Forest Reserves and its adjoining villages into a modern Industrial Park, to promote textile and dyeing industry, Dr Surjit Pattar visited the area and echoed his strong resentment against the 'so called' sell out of prime land for Industrial growth in the State.
During his visit along with social and environmental activists , Ranjodh Singh, Agriculturist Manjinder Singh Bawa, Advocate JS Sandhu, MS Grewal, Ashwinder Sethi, Karan Jain, prof Mrs Bhupinder Pattar, Rajinder Kaur, they met various villagers of Sekhewal, Machhian kalan and Matterwara to express their solidarity with the local population, who will be badly affected with this decision.
Mattewara Forest is a reserve forest under the state act, and also prone to flooding due to close proximity with River Sutlej. NGT the National Green Tribunal has already earmarked flood plans along river beds, and to save the environment from further erosion. The whole WORLD is already suffering severe climate change that can bring disasters in coming time. Moreover, the flora and fauna of this forest will be completely destroyed in wake of the upcoming textile and dyeing Industrial Park in its vicinity of this prime natural reserves.
Public Action Committee consisting of nature lovers and environment crusaders, Amandeep Bains, Jaskirat Singh, Er Kapil Arora, Kuldeep Khaira and others has approached Punjab Government to reconsider their decision and instead use this area for a Biodiversity Park, Ecotourism and Water Sports.
