Farmers Movement Archive

Against liquor unit, Fazilka villagers gherao DC office, block highway

Fazilka, March 2 Women, villagers and farmers gheraoed the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today, in protest against setting up of liquor factory in Hiranwali village of Fazilka. The women and the villagers blocked the main gate of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) for several hours, and also blocked the Fazilka-Abohar highway. Activists of BKU (Ekta-Sidhupura) and Dakaunda also participated in the agitation. Fazilka Beopar Mandal, Bar Association and Pesticides Dealers Association also announced support to the agitation. Meanwhile, four villagers, including two women ended their fast unto death after assurance from Fazilka Congress MLA Davinder Singh Ghubaya that they would get justice. Farmers Manoj Jhinjha and Davinder Saharan said the panchayat of several villages had brought the issue into notice of the district administration several times, but the administration failed to stop the construction of the unit allegedly due to pressure from higher authorities as the unit was being set up by a senior Congress leader of the area. Anil Kumar Jhinjha, sarpanch of the village, said residents of about 15 villages had been blocking the national highway near Hiranwali Maur for the past two weeks. The villagers had pleaded that toxic waste water of the unit would result in degradation of environment and sub soil water resources.

The Tribune

2021-03-03