No More Extensions for Industries Operating in Mixed Land Use Areas: Protect Human Lives, Uphold the Rule of Law and End Decades of Environmental Injustice

MEMORANDUM

No More Extensions for Industries Operating in Mixed Land Use Areas: Protect Human Lives, Uphold the Rule of Law and End Decades of Environmental Injustice

To

S. Bhagwant Singh Mann Ji
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Punjab

Shri Gulab Chand Kataria Ji
Hon’ble Governor of Punjab

Subject: Immediate Termination of All Extensions Granted to Industries Operating in Mixed Land Use (MLU) Areas and Strict Enforcement of Time-Bound Relocation in the Larger Public Interest

Respected Sir,

This Memorandum is submitted to draw your urgent attention to one of the gravest yet continuing threats to public health, environmental security and urban governance in Punjab—the continued operation of industrial units within Mixed Land Use (MLU) areas despite the expiry of repeated opportunities provided for their relocation.

The issue has now transcended the boundaries of industrial policy. It has become a matter directly concerning the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Every additional day that hazardous industries continue to function amidst densely populated residential colonies places thousands of innocent citizens at avoidable risk.

The Mixed Land Use policy was never conceived as a permanent arrangement. It was introduced solely as a one-time transitional measure to facilitate the orderly relocation and rehabilitation of scattered industrial units to properly planned industrial estates equipped with the necessary environmental infrastructure.

Unfortunately, what was intended to be a temporary concession has, through repeated extensions over more than two decades, been transformed into an instrument for perpetuating illegality. A large number of industrial units have repeatedly sought extensions instead of complying with the law, and administrative indulgence has weakened the credibility of environmental governance.

Most industrial units operating within MLU areas continue to function without adequate environmental safeguards. Hazardous trade effluents are frequently discharged into municipal sewerage systems that are not designed to handle industrial waste. Even more alarming are persistent reports of illegal disposal of toxic effluents through reverse borewells, resulting in contamination of precious groundwater aquifers that sustain millions of people.

Industrial emissions, toxic fumes, particulate matter, hazardous chemicals, incessant noise and the movement of heavy commercial vehicles through residential neighbourhoods have converted many Mixed Land Use areas into environmental hazard zones. Children, senior citizens and vulnerable citizens are compelled to live amidst conditions never intended for human habitation.

The Giaspura Gas Tragedy stands as a permanent reminder of the catastrophic consequences of permitting hazardous industrial activities within residential areas. That incident exposed serious shortcomings in regulation, enforcement and accountability. Punjab cannot afford another such tragedy. Preventive governance is always superior to post-disaster compensation.

No economic activity, however productive, can be permitted to violate the constitutional guarantee of life, health and a clean environment. Industrial development must coexist with environmental responsibility and public safety. It cannot flourish by endangering the lives of ordinary citizens.

The continued granting of extensions sends a disturbing message that violations of law can be regularised indefinitely. It undermines industries that have complied with relocation policies and rewards those that have deliberately ignored statutory obligations.

The State Government must therefore adopt a policy of Zero Tolerance and Zero Further Extensions.

In the larger public interest, we respectfully urge the Government to take the following immediate actions:

1. Declare that no further extension shall be granted to any industrial unit operating in Mixed Land Use areas under any circumstances.
2. Notify a final, non-negotiable deadline for the relocation of all remaining industries.
3. Order immediate closure, sealing and cancellation of licences of industrial units that fail to relocate within the stipulated period.
4. Disconnect electricity, water and other public utilities of non-compliant units after due process.
5. Conduct a comprehensive environmental audit of all MLU industrial units to assess illegal discharge of effluents, groundwater contamination, air pollution and hazardous waste disposal.
6. Identify and permanently seal all illegal reverse borewells and prosecute those responsible for deliberate contamination of groundwater.
7. Recover environmental compensation from polluting units under the ‘Polluter Pays’ Principle and utilise the funds for ecological restoration and public health measures.
8. Fix accountability of officials whose negligence or deliberate inaction has enabled prolonged violations of environmental and municipal laws.
9. Constitute an independent monitoring mechanism with public participation to oversee compliance and ensure complete transparency.
10. Ensure that all future industrial expansion takes place only within designated industrial estates possessing complete environmental infrastructure and statutory clearances.

Repeated pleas seeking extensions on grounds of financial hardship, market conditions or operational inconvenience cannot continue indefinitely. The Government has already provided more than adequate opportunities for relocation. Continued non-compliance is now a conscious violation of law and an unacceptable threat to public welfare.

The lives of citizens cannot be compromised for political expediency, administrative convenience or private commercial interests. There must be no political patronage, no selective enforcement and no compromise with environmental violations.

Punjab deserves clean air, safe groundwater, peaceful residential neighbourhoods and responsible industrial growth. Sustainable development can only be achieved when industries operate within the framework of law and environmental accountability.

The time has come for decisive leadership.

No More Extensions.

No More Excuses.

No More Political Compromises at the Cost of Human Lives.

Industries operating illegally in Mixed Land Use areas must Relocate Within the Prescribed Time or Face Permanent Closure.

This is not merely an environmental issue—it is a matter of public safety, constitutional governance and justice for every citizen of Punjab.

We earnestly request your immediate intervention and decisive action in the larger public interest.

With highest regards,

Col CM Lakhanpal
Member
Public Action Committee (PAC)
Mattewara Jungles, River Satluj & Buddha Darya, Ludhiana

Mobile: 94171 38044