NOIDA: A group of wrestlers on Tuesday staged a protest against the waste-to-energy plant in Noida’s Sector 123. They demanded that the dumping ground be relocated as it will have serious implications on the health of local residents.The wrestlers from different villages like Sorkha, Sarfabad and Gadhi Chaukhandi gathered near the protest site next to Homes 121 and marched around the Parthala roundabout. But when they tried to move towards the waste plant site, they were stopped by police. The protesting members raised slogans before dispersing.Sukhveer Pahalwan and other residents, who were released from judicial custody on Monday, also joined the protest. “Our moral has boosted after going to jail and we will continue the fight,” he said.Advocate Mahendra Singh, a resident of Gadhi Chaukhandi village, who was among 26 people arrested on June 4 for protesting against the waste plant, said jail authorities behaved well with them. “They knew that we are fighting for a good cause. All the 26 arrested people were kept in a separate barrack, away from the other accused. We were given dal, roti and sabzi like other inmates and there was no discrimination,” he said.Singh said some of those arrested remained on fast in jail for four days against police action. He said that everyday some local residents or politicians had visited them in jail. “Every day we enquired about the protest and also the development work of the waste plant,” he said.Sonu Pahalwan, a resident of Sorkha village, also spent one week in jail after he was arrested. “We have resolved not to allow waste-to-energy plant in our neighbourhood. We are ready to go to jail again if the police and administration want so,” he said. While 24 persons were released from judicial custody on Monday, two others — Rambhul Pradhan and Pushpendra — are still in jail as stringent charges have been slapped on them.Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav on Monday also supported the protest against the waste plant in Sector 123. “People in power should think of healthy Indians along with ‘Swachh Bharat.’ Samajwadi Party supports the protest against dumping ground. The BJP should understand the pain of aggrieved residents and forsake the ‘Swachh Bharat,’ for show off,” he said.

Stay updated with all the Noida Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.