Dhrangadhra: A public hearing in Soladi village in Dhrangadhra taluka, witnessed opposition from over a hundred villagers against a proposed biomedical waste treatment plant. The villagers allege that the project is being pushed through by the state’s Agriculture Minister, Ravjibhai Patel, due to his son’s partnership in the company behind the plant.

The proposed plant by Devyogi Healthcare LLP, based in Jamnagar, is planned for a site surrounded by fertile agricultural land in Soladi. Villagers fear that the plant will contaminate their land and water sources, severely impacting their livelihoods and health.

During the public hearing, organized by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and attended by Deputy Collector Harshdeep Acharya, a group of residents voiced their concerns and openly protested against the project. Villagers claim that the project has reached the final stage of environmental clearance.

The villagers have also held a public meeting in Soladi, threatening to boycott upcoming elections and politicians if the plant is approved. They argue that the plant will negatively impact 20 surrounding villages, damaging fertile land, groundwater, and public health. They have vowed to continue their protests and launch a campaign to prevent the plant’s construction.

The villagers specifically highlighted the fertile nature of the land, the presence of fresh groundwater, and the proximity to a canal as reasons why the plant should not be built.