Ludhiana. 29 Nov : Secretary All India Congress Committee and spokesman Manish Tewari today criticised the Punjab Pollution Control Board for ordering closure of several dyeing units in Ludhiana. He expressed shock as how the PCB could take such a harsh decision making it appear as if these dyeing units were responsible for the entire pollution in the city.
The senior Congress leader expressed his support to the aggrieved dyeing unit holders and assured all sort of assistance including legal and otherwise to them to counter the problem. Tewari said, he had been told that the dyeing units were not the only polluting agents in Ludhiana. In fact most of the pollution was caused from the waste disposal of the municipal corporation.
Tewari said, while saving and safeguarding the environment was the paramount responsibility of the state and the individuals, but closing down the units was no solution. He pointed out, it would lead to several other problems as it will also effect other industries. The best course would be to set up a large treatment plant. Moreover, he said, he had learnt that the industrialists had voluntarily decided to regulate the disposals and ensure that only treated wastes were let out into the drains.
The AICC secretary expressed surprise as what was the BJP doing. He said, while the Akalis’ hostility towards the industry was understandable, the BJP would always proclaim itself to be the champion of the rights of the industry and trade. He said, the BJP having failed to safeguard the interests of the dyeing units should ask its legislators to resign.
Tewari clarified, he did not want to defend any erring unit. But at the same time the law of justice demands that everyone must be given the chance to be heard. Taking arbitrary decision only smacks of a dictatorial mindset that only betrays hostility towards industry