Land size down from 76 to 26 acres

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has decided to reduce the size of the proposed solid waste treatment plant in Sector 102-A to 26 acres from 76 acres.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Assistant, Chief Administrator, GMADA, Balwinder Singh, said, “The decision has been taken after the report of the sub-committee formed for the same, which said the plant will require less land in wake of the new technology being used. On the other hand, sources in GMADA says the size has been reduced as the farmers were demanding high land compensation, which is more than Rs 1.5 crore per acre.

Against the chunks of the land identified in Chaunmajra, Dardi and Darali villages, the 26 acres of land was now being acquired in Dardi and Durali villages only.

A committee headed by housing secretary Arun Goel and comprising officials from the Science and Technology Department, Pollution Control Board, GMADA, and S.A.S. Nagar Municipal Council members had been constituted to monitor the project.

Balwinder Singh said the work on the new solid waste treatment plant in S.A.S. Nagar will start within two months and the plant will be functional within six months.

A notification has been issued to acquire 26 acres in Sector 102-A for the project, which will give respite to hundreds of residents and industrialists from the present site in the Industrial Focal Point at Phase VIII-B.

Till now, garbage of the entire city was dumped in a densely-populated area surrounded by industrial units, mega projects and residential areas like IT major Quark Media, Dell Computers, Hindustan Times Media Limited and Punjab’s most-touted special economic zone QuarkCity.

The foul smell of garbage and smoke resulting from its burning had been causing health problems like breathing, skin and eye complications.

“Since the immediate requirement for the landfill site was 26 acres, notice under Section 6 under the Land Acquisition Act has been issued. The compensation would be paid within the next two months. The district administration has already issued an NOC for acquiring the land,” said a senior official.