Rana Inder Partap, Managing Director of the Rana Sugars Private Limited today asked the Aam Aadmi Party leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira as what authority did he have to inspect the sugar mill.Addressing a press conference along with several farmers from different villages around the sugar mill, Inder Partap said, Khaira was only hunting for the publicity.“Otherwise what was the point in his first approaching the National Green Tribunal then coming to the mill for verifying the facts”, he asked.He said, when he had already complained to the NGT levelling baseless charges, what was the purpose in visiting the mill afterwards. “You first gather facts and then complain and not the other way round”, he observed, while adding, “it is like putting the cart before the horse”.He also questioned the very motive of Khaira in levelling allegations against the mill. “Isn’t it strange that he did not go to Kiri Afghana where the spill took place and instead wanted to come to our sugar mill which has zero discharge?” he asked while alleging that Khaira might have stuck a deal with the mill owners there and wanted to do the drama elsewhere.Indra Pratap accused Sukhpal Khaira of using sugar mills for political gain. During this conference , Rana Indra Pratap also showed many videos and photo of Rana Sugar Mill and explained how all arrangements have been made to stop pollution within the Rana Sugar Mill and the water is being recycled and reused in the mill itself.
He said that the molasses (sheera) that come out from sugar mills are sold in the market and no chemical or polluted water is released from Rana Sugar Mill in any river-drain or canal. During the press conference , along with Rana Inder Partap Sarpanchs and farmers of several villages surrounding Butter village and Sugar Mill were also present.All these people said that even if they belong to different political parties but all the people are standing in support of Sugar mill of Butter area and due to this sugar mill they earn their livelihood and feed their families .The people of the village living near the Sugar Mill told the media that due to the Sugar Mill their economic condition have improved a lot and whatever beets and sugarcane crops they produce, its sold in direct Sugar Mill and Sugar Mill They also get the payment on time. Sarpanchs, collectors and farmer leaders from the villages said that there is nothing wrong in Sugar Mill, which threatens Punjab or the pollution of the country, and Sukhpal Khaira just For political benefit.The farmers said about 20,000 farmers were dependent on the sugar mill. Besides, they added, it provided direct employment to 2 thousand people.Meanwhile, Rana Inder Pratap gave an open challenge to the media and Sukhpal Khaira that they can come and check the sugar mills any time and can see that all the arrangements have been made to stop pollution in Rana Sugar Mill. Along with this, Rana Pratap Singh also showed the pollution control certificate that the sugar mill gets every year from the Punjab Pollution Control Board.