SAD, BJP get people's ultimatum for Bathinda waste plant

Bathinda: To get a solid-waste management plant shifted out from the vicinity of their homes, hundreds of residents of 12 colonies in Bathinda have issued a warning to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance, saying that they would not vote for it in the 2017 assembly elections if the plant is not moved by July 31.

The plant falls near thickly-populated residential areas of Bathinda, including Mati Dass Nagar, Nachattar Nagar, Jogi Nagar, Harbans Nagar, House Fed Colony, Guru Ki Nagri, Deep Nagar, Silver Colony and ITI Colony. A committee formed by the residents on Tuesday asked the SAD-BJP alliance to either shift the plant or face political opposition from them. On July 7, residents had taken up the issue with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal during the inauguration of an advanced care treatment and research centre in Bathinda. However, they had failed to give an assurance at that time.

The plant spread over 30 acres has been set up for Rs 28 crore and the SAD government has been intending to project the solid waste plant here as a model plant for other cities in the state to follow. The Congress, meanwhile, has already reached out to the residents and assured them that the plant would be shifted out if it comes to power in 2017. "Our committee met residents of the 12 colonies on Monday. All of us have decided to serve a notice to the state government to shift the plant from its current location on Mansa road by July 31. If it's not shifted, we will oppose the SAD-BJP in the elections," said committee convener Jeet Singh Joshi.

A few days ago, Joshi had said that deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal had assured them that the plant would be shifted, but they now wanted action and not promises. "The stench emanating from the plant is unbearable. It is located in a thickly populated area and is a health hazard for all of us," he added. Bathinda (urban) MLA and chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Sarup Chand Singla, who is of the SAD, said the state government was looking into the demand. "We will not let anyone stay annoyed," he said.