The Punjab Government has officially cancelled the Change of Land Use (CLU) permission for a proposed cement plant in Deh Kalan village, Sangrur. This decision follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling in February 2026 that set aside a previous High Court order validating the project.
The legal battle was spearheaded by 93-year-old Harbinder Singh Sekhon and local residents, who argued that the 47-acre Shree Cement subsidiary would jeopardise the health of 1800 students and nearby farmers. The Supreme Court agreed, noting that the site was strictly designated as a rural agricultural zone under the Sangrur Master Plan.
In its judgment, the Bench emphasised that the "right to life" under Article 21 encompasses a clean environment. The court ruled that retrospective approvals cannot validate an initially unlawful permit, especially when environmental safeguards are bypassed. Consequently, the Senior Town Planner formally withdrew the project’s clearance on March 20, halting the industrial development.
