Mohali, August 20: Residents of Chapparchiri have voiced strong opposition to the proposed garbage processing plant in their village, citing fears of health risks and environmental damage. A delegation of locals met Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh Sandhu on Tuesday to press their concerns, even as he sought to assure them that the project would adopt modern, eco-friendly methods.
Sandhu told the delegation that the plant would function as a waste-to-energy unit, designed with state-of-the-art technology to prevent pollution. “The plant will not emit foul smell or harmful gases. It will be a completely environment-friendly solution. The first step will be constructing a boundary wall on the 13-acre site, for which approval has already been sought from the Punjab government,” he mentioned.
The meeting came amid rising tensions, as residents of Chapparchiri and nearby villages have repeatedly staged protests against the proposed site. On Sunday, demonstrations intensified when villagers blocked the Mohali–Chandigarh road near Phase 11 and stopped MC teams from beginning work. Similar resistance was reported at another identified site near Kambala and Dharamgarh villages.
Locals have argued that placing a waste facility near residential areas could increase diseases caused by flies, mosquitoes, and foul odours. “We will not allow a garbage plant in our village. It will bring illness and make life miserable. If the authorities do not listen, our agitation will only get stronger,” a villager warned during the protest.
Municipal officials, however, insist that the facility is critical for Mohali, which generates nearly 200 to 250 tonnes of waste every day but lacks an efficient disposal system. Existing plants at Shahimajra and Jagatpura remain idle, despite having installed machinery, following the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order to shut the previous dumping ground.
After Tuesday’s interaction, some residents appeared partially reassured by the commissioner’s promise of a scientific approach, though they maintained their demand that the site be shifted to a non-residential area.
