Industry protests setting up of garbage dump in Focal Point Phase VI

Members of Association of Trade and Industrial Undertakings (ATIU) held a protest at the site at Focal Point Area phase VI where a garbage dump is proposed to be set up by the municipal corporation(MC).

President of the association Pankaj Sharma condemned the decision of MC to install garbage compactor and build a garbage dump at Focal Point Phase VI. He said the dump will portray a poor image of the city in front of clients of various industry owners. The dump yard will also pose a serious health issue, he added.

“Punjab small industries and export corporation (PSIEC) had marked this two-acre plot as green park which was handed over to MC for maintenance. But civic body failed to develop the park and could not stop accumulation of domestic as well as industrial waste at the plot. ATIU and some corporate houses have been requesting MC to allow them to adopt the park. A big corporate house has time and again offered to spend ₹20 lakh out of CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds for the beautification of the park but MC has turned a deaf ear towards this proposal.

On Monday, industrialists gathered in large numbers and held a peaceful protest against the said decision of the MC. More than 100 factory owners from different industrial associations gathered to show their resentment.

Sharma added,“MC collects property tax from factory owners but fails to provide basic facilities to the factory owners. All vacant land at the Focal Point is marked for development of parks by PSIEC. The civic body has failed to develop parks on the pretext of lack of funds.”