The Punjab and Haryana High Court established a committee to evaluate the financial losses reported by companies due to delays caused by farmers’ protests against biogas projects in Punjab. This assessment aims to address claims from companies impacted by the protests. The farmers have voiced concerns over the projects, prompting delays and disputes. The court’s intervention seeks to mediate between the protesting farmers and affected companies.
Retired Air Commodore Parminder Singh secured a loan to set up a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in his hometown of Muskaan, located in Samrala, Ludhiana. The facility, named Aquagreen Energies Private Limited, has an estimated cost of around Rs.17 crores, with Singh personally investing about Rs.10 crores to date.
Once operational, the plant is expected to process 20 tons of paddy straw and 60 tons of Napier grass each day, generating 2.6 tons of bio-CNG.
Additionally, the plant aims to manage paddy straw across 3,650 acres, helping to eliminate the practice of burning it by local farmers.
The plant encountered resistance from local farmers’ unions, who argue that chemicals from biogas production “may be carcinogenic and could contaminate soil.”
Singh noted,
“It has been six months since the farmers have been sitting outside the plant. It is a green industry with containment measures, but unfortunately, the Punjab government has not been able to convince the farmers.”
Singh and other investors have turned to the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking relief, citing substantial financial losses.
In response, the court established a committee to evaluate the losses claimed by companies impacted by delays resulting from protests. This committee, chaired by retired Judge Rajiv Sharma, will also include former District & Sessions Judge Inderjit Mehta, advocate Sukhdeep Singh Sidhu, and a chartered accountant.
Their responsibilities include gathering testimonies from affected parties and compiling a report regarding the losses linked to state actions and the protests.
The committee members will receive compensation for their services, with the chairman earning Rs.5 lakh and each member receiving Rs.2.5 lakh, in addition to travel and administrative costs.
Furthermore, the court directed the committee to review the legitimacy of project approvals. Senior Advocate RS Bains expressed concerns that a project under CWP-17781-2024 may not comply with the siting guidelines from the Central Pollution Control Board, while Advocate Aalok Jagga argued that the project adhered to the standards set by the Punjab Pollution Control Board and had acquired all necessary approvals.
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Despite the objections, the court appointed Ritam Aggarwal as Local Commissioner to verify the physical parameters, with assistance from a tehsildar for measurements and demarcation.
Lastly, the court instructed the Punjab government to fund all fees related to the committee and the commissioner within specified timelines.
The state government is also planning to establish 39 CBG plants across Punjab to tackle the issue of paddy straw burning, although various administrative and logistical challenges persist.