Punjab Activists Demand End to Industrial Permits in Mixed Land Use Areas
Environmental activists in Punjab have submitted a formal request to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, demanding an immediate halt to extensions for industries operating in mixed land use areas. The activists, representing the Public Action Committee (PAC) and Buddha Dariya Action Front, argue that continued industrial activity in these zones is causing significant environmental damage and must be addressed without further delay.
Decades of Temporary Permissions Leading to Severe Consequences
Col CM Lakhanpal, a prominent activist, highlighted that over the past two decades, temporary permissions granted to industrial units in mixed land use areas have gradually become quasi-permanent. This prolonged arrangement has resulted in severe environmental degradation in residential neighbourhoods. The issues include overburdened civic infrastructure, movement of heavy commercial vehicles through residential streets, sewage overflow, stagnant polluted water, groundwater contamination, and air pollution from red and orange category industrial units. Public health concerns, particularly among economically weaker sections, have escalated as a direct consequence of these environmental hazards.
Calls for Comprehensive Mapping and Relocation Strategies
Another activist, Maninderjit Singh Benipal, emphasized the need for a comprehensive mapping framework of over 70 mixed land use clusters. He advocated for the categorisation of industrial units into red, orange, green, and white categories, along with a gap analysis on their compliance with environmental norms. The impact of such units on public health must be thoroughly assessed to inform future policy decisions.
The activists have proposed several key measures to mitigate the ongoing crisis:
- Cluster-Based Industrial Relocation: The government should prepare and implement plans for relocating industries from mixed land use areas to approved industrial clusters.
- Development of Approved Industrial Clusters: Establish new industrial zones with complete infrastructure, including Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) that comply with zero liquid discharge standards.
- Mandatory Green Buffer Zones: Implement green buffer zones around industrial areas to reduce environmental impact on residential neighbourhoods.
- Real-Time Monitoring and GIS Mapping: Deploy real-time monitoring systems and conduct GIS mapping of all 70 mixed land use pockets to ensure ongoing compliance and transparency.
These proposals aim to address the root causes of environmental degradation while safeguarding public health and promoting sustainable industrial practices in Punjab.
