Ludhiana, January 26: On the occasion of Republic Day, environmental activists came together to assess the progress and challenges in restoring the Buddha Nullah (Buddha Dariya). The gathering highlighted a renewed focus on the project, with both the Centre and State Governments showing increased interest in addressing the longstanding pollution crisis, the activists said.
The event also marked the completion of Phase 6 of the Buddha Dariya Padyatra (BDP-7), conducted by volunteers of the Buddha Dariya Action Front (BDAF) under the Public Action Committee (PAC), Ludhiana. The padyatra aimed to evaluate ongoing developments and gauge the public’s perspective on recent political and administrative actions. Activists raised concerns over the untreated wastewater from the recently constructed Adhoc IPS near the Gaughat Cremation Ground, which is being funneled into the 225 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Tajpur. They alleged that untreated discharge bypassing the STP is continuing to contaminate the environment, undermining the restoration efforts.
The PAC appreciated recent government initiatives, including a meeting convened by the Governor of Punjab with Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, his team, and local MLAs. They also acknowledged the joint raids conducted by government agencies on polluting units, which they described as a positive step. However, activists stressed that these actions remain insufficient given the scale of pollution affecting Buddha Dariya and its surrounding areas.
The PAC members said that the Punjab Development Commission (PDC) has also shown interest in the issue, conducting visits to assess the situation. However, they criticized the lack of concrete action beyond discussions and site visits, urging authorities to focus on providing immediate relief to the people suffering due to pollution in Buddha Dariya, River Sutlej, and subsoil water.
Environmental activist Mahinder Singh Sekhon, who led the PAC delegation, emphasised the need for stronger enforcement of environmental laws. He called for legal action to shut down or relocate polluting industries, advocating for a “shift or shut” strategy to hold violators accountable. Sekhon reminded citizens of their constitutional rights to a clean and healthy environment and their fundamental duties to protect it. He called for strict penalties against those flouting environmental norms.
The PAC proposed a series of measures to address the pollution crisis, including the implementation of a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) policy to ensure industries treat and recycle all wastewater. They recommended relocating scattered industrial units from residential areas to designated zones equipped with advanced treatment facilities such as STPs, CETPs, and ETPs. Additionally, they suggested creating large concrete ponds in industrial areas to store treated water for reuse in industries, firefighting, green belt development, and other community needs.
The activists also stressed the importance of effective sludge management systems and regular monitoring through audits and surveillance to maintain compliance with environmental regulations.
The PAC announced that details of Phase 7 of the Buddha Dariya Project would be revealed soon and encouraged the public to join their efforts in spreading awareness about pollution and its impact on public health and the environment.
Col CM Lakhanpal, a PAC member, reiterated the need for collective action to protect Buddha Dariya and River Sutlej. He emphasized that a clean environment is not just a constitutional right but also a shared responsibility.
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