Quantum Paper Mill Protest: Villagers

Hoshiarpur/ Daljeet Ajnona /July 31 : Residents of Nariala staged a vociferous protest today against the Quantum Paper Mill in Sailla Khurd, accusing the plant of contaminating the village’s air and drinking water. The demonstration followed a meeting organized by the Human Rights Struggle Committee, Saila Khurd, in which the entire panchayat and large numbers of villagers raised slogans demanding immediate action.
Speakers at the meeting — including Sarbjeet Kaur (Sarpanch, Nariala), Namberdar Onkar Singh, Davinder Singh (ex-serviceman), Rajvinder Kaur, and Jasveer Kaur (former Sarpanch) — said the mill’s operations, located alarmingly close to the village, have made life hazardous. “Our drinking water and the air we breathe are polluted. Villagers are suffering from various illnesses and several deaths have occurred,” they said. “We do not need the mill’s facilities. We need the clean water and healthy environment God gave us to live.”
Human Rights Struggle Committee members Sanjeev Kumar Boby Goldy Singh (Sarpanch, Bihran), Karanveer Singh (Sailla Kalan), Mohit Gupta, and Rajesh Kumar assured villagers they would press the central and Punjab state governments and administrative authorities to take action on the community’s demands.
Prominent attendees included Kulwant Singh, Paramjeet Singh, Raghveer Singh, Avtar Singh, and Balveer Singh. A large number of other villagers were also present.