Stand-off between dyeing industry, activists leaves commuters in lurch

While tension prevailed across various areas and the police were seen at every nook and corner of the city, it was the common man, who suffered the most due to the standoff between the industry and activists of the ‘Kale Pani da Morcha’ campaign. Residents and commuters had to bear the brunt due to the call given by the activists and the normal life in the city was affected. The activists wanted to block the discharge lines of CETPs of dyeing units.

Aradhna Singh, a resident staying near Aggar Nagar, said she was stuck for over an hour in traffic near the BRS Nagar bridge. “I had to pick up my daughter from the school but could not reach on time and had to call one of my acquaintances to do the same.” Why do we have to suffer,” rued Aradhna.

Many persons on roads were seen pleading to the police to let them go but since strict instructions were passed on to them, the personnel did not afford to take any chance. The commuters had to take alternative routes to reach their destinations.

On the other hand, the entire industry, especially the dyeing and a few allied garment and textile industries, remained shut today as workers were called by the Punjab Dyers Association to safeguard the Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) of dyeing units as activists wanted to stop the discharge of water from the CETPs.

Routes were diverted and the commuters were not allowed to go from Ferozepur Road towards Agar Nagar and traffic was diverted from the BRS Nagar side. Long serpentine queues of vehicles were witnessed on roads outside Gurdwara Nanaksar and opposite GADVASU. Schoolchildren also faced inconvenience as they had to take long routes due to heavy barricading across the city.

Police officials, including Commissioner Police (CP) Kuldip Chahal, ADCPs, ACPs and SHOs, were on duty in different areas of the city. The normal life hit in the city following the call given by the activists as the Ferozepur road was also blocked for several hours.