Punjab: PEDA asks MC to re-allot 2.3 acres for bio-gas plant

LUDHIANA: As Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA) has asked for give no-objection certificate (NoC) and allocate 2.30 acre of land for the expansion of bio CNG plant at Haibowal dairy complex, the civic officials will put up the case in the MC general house meeting for decision. The MC had developed an open sports park at that land recently and if they grant land to Peda, the sports park will have to go.
The PEDA is told to enhance the capacity of existing plant, but they have proposed to install one more plant nearby to tackle the waste coming from all dairy units in the complex.
The MC had allocated the land to Peda in October 2007 on the directions of high court so that plant expansion could take place. When PEDA did not expand the plant even in 2019 , the MC rolled back its decision to give land by passing a resolution in the MC house meeting on September 23, 2019. On August 21, 2021 former cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and mayor Balkar Sandhu laid foundation stone for developing a sports park and an open playground at this place.
The PEDA officials, however, raised objection on the construction work going on at the land in November 2021 and also asked to get FIR registered against those who are encroaching the land. On May 31, PEDA has once again requested the civic body to grant the land to them so that they could go ahead with expansion plan. They have recommended that additional 300 metric tonne capacity plant is required in city in addition to 235 metric tonne of existing plant.
Requesting anonymity, one of the officials claimed that they were asked to prepare a report on this and whenever house meeting will take place, the members will take a call on this. He said MC had utilised the land when PEDA did not use it for several years.
Mayor Sandhu said, “The land was lying unused for 12 years. Now, when we developed a sports park there they want to build another plant there. There is no shortage of land, as we have enough land available in dairy complex.”
One of the PEDA officials claimed that the land was not utilised by them as the authorities remained indecisive over shifting of the dairy units. “For the last 10-12 years, we were not sure if dairies will stay here or get shifted,” he added.
What will happen to sports park?
The bigger question facing MC general house meeting is, in case the land is reallocated to PEDA, what will happen to the sports park set up by civic body. The estimate cost of the sports park was Rs 50 lakh. And in case MC house decides to keep the park, the other worrying question will be what will happen to the expansion of plant and pollution in Buddha Nullah.