Ludhiana: Dairy owners from the Haibowal Dairy Complex have deferred their planned protest after civic officials called them for a meeting on Thursday to discuss their concerns. Sources indicate that officials requested the dairy owners to postpone the demonstration scheduled for Wednesday, citing the visit of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to Ludhiana.
Protest Postponed Amid Political Visit
The dairy owners had planned to stage a protest on Hambran Road, bringing their cattle along, to highlight the failure of the effluent treatment plant (ETP) at the complex. They claimed that the ETP was unable to handle the volume of wastewater generated by all the dairies. Additionally, they pointed out that even the cemented roads in the area had developed potholes, further aggravating their difficulties.
Meeting with Civic Officials
Paramjit Singh Bobby, Chairman of the Dairy Complex Haibowal Association, expressed hope that the meeting would allow them to discuss the issues in detail. He stated that they would wait for a week for a resolution, failing which they would launch a massive protest. The dairy owners are seeking immediate action to address the malfunctioning ETP and the poor road conditions.
Civic Body's Perspective
Area councillor Indu Munish Shah acknowledged the problems but noted that the ETP is not functioning properly due to excessive water from the dairy units. She explained that the poor processing of cow dung is a major cause of the ETP's failure. An additional biogas plant was planned for the complex, but no progress has been made so far.
A civic body official said that dairy owners have been asked to install water meters to measure water consumption in their units. The official added that the problem would only be resolved after verifying the facts. The meeting on Thursday is expected to provide a platform for both sides to find a sustainable solution.
