Activist Lakha Sidhana and others highlight the public health crisis linked to toxic waters
Ludhiana: Amid allegations that government authorities have ‘failed’ to curb pollution in Buddha Dariya, commonly known as Buddha Nullah due to the dumping of toxic waters, members of ‘Kale Pani Da Morcha’ have announced plans to plug outlets of the two Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) of Ludhiana’s dyeing industries on December 3.
The activists alleged that the CETPs were not treating wastewater from the dyeing industries as per the norms, leading to the pollution of Buddha Dariya. They argued that plugging the CETP outlets on Tajpur Road, Ludhiana, will prevent the discharge of untreated water from the concerned dyeing industries into the Buddha Dariya.
While addressing a press conference at Gurdwara Gau Ghat regarding the planned blockade, activists Lakha Sidhana, Amitoj Mann, and others stated that despite orders from constitutional authorities to CETPs to stop discharging water into the Buddha Dariya, these plants continue to operate unabated. They alleged that untreated effluent is being unlawfully discharged into the Buddha Dariya, endangering lives from Ludhiana to Rajasthan with contaminated water. They alleged that this exploitation has persisted for the past four decades, accusing the government of failing to take action against the offending industries.
Members of Kale Pani Da Morcha addressing a press conference in Ludhiana regarding Buddha Dariya pollution on Thursday.
Another activist, Dr. Amandeep Singh Bains, stated that after a meeting on August 24, the Punjab Pollution Control Board ordered the closure of CETPs. However, the Kale Pani Da Morcha gave the authorities two months to act, but no steps were taken. Consequently, the Morcha announced a blockade on December 3 to halt the discharge of millions of liters of untreated water daily into Buddha Dariya by dyeing clusters. Dr. Bains said that a large gathering would convene near the Verka Milk Plant, after which people from Punjab and Rajasthan would march towards Tajpur Road, Ludhiana. He said, “We will permanently block the two pipes (outlets) responsible for dumping 90 million liters of toxic water into the Buddha Dariya daily.”
Activist Lakha Sidhana said, “It is time to decide whether to stop these factories from spreading poison or to remain passive while watching crops and future generations perish.”
Meanwhile, the group members Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Kapil Arora claimed that the factories asserted that their treated water complied with environmental laws but refused to reuse this water in their operations. This, they said, raises serious questions about the authenticity of their claims.
The Morcha members previously met residents of over 30 villages at Walipur to discuss an alleged government proposal to use treated water from CETPs for irrigation. However, villagers strongly opposed the move, vowing to fight it tooth and nail. The Morcha announced plans for more meetings in the area to form an organized team to battle this issue.
The members of Kale Pani Da Morcha emphasized that Ludhiana’s dyeing industry is not allowed to release even treated water into the Buddha Dariya.
Dyeing Industry Opposes Morcha’s Plan: Association Defends Itself Against Allegations of Polluting Buddha Dariya
CETPs treat millions of litres of water daily, say dyeing industry members
Dyeing Industries Association members addressing a press conference in Ludhiana.
Meanwhile, members of the dyeing industry association have declared their intent to oppose the blockade of CETP outlets, asserting that they are not responsible for polluting the Buddha Dariya. They questioned the role of the members of Kale Pani Da Morcha, alleging that false accusations were being leveled against their dyeing industries. They blamed the Morcha members of misleading the public.
Addressing a separate press conference in Ludhiana, members associated with the dyeing industries stated that they would like to inform the public that these two CETPs were built with the approval of the central and Punjab governments at a cost of approximately ₹250 crore. Of this amount, only ₹45 crores were subsidised, while the remaining ₹200 crores were spent by the members from their own pockets. They claimed that these CETPs treat millions of liters of water daily, with an operational cost of approximately ₹3 crore per month.
They further said that they will protect their CETP plants and the sewage lines of their factories. Additionally, they questioned the dumping of waste from the scattered dyeing units and dairy units into Buddha Dariya.
Polluted Waters Continue to Degrade Sutlej River
Polluted Waters of Buddha Nullah Merging into the Sutlej – File Photo
Notably, environmental activists and residents of various villages alleged that successive governments have failed to address the decades-long issue of severe pollution in Buddha Dariya. For years, industrial effluents, domestic sewage, dairy waste, and solid waste have been dumped into the water body, transforming it into the blackened Buddha Nullah, which merges with the Sutlej River near Walipur village.
