Ludhiana: After cutting sewer connections of dairy units discharging untreated waste water into Buddha Dariya, Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal held a meeting with officials of the administration and owners of dairy units at Tajpur Road on Tuesday. During the meeting, dairy farmers were instructed to make alternative arrangements to handle waste generated in their units instead of dumping it in the water. Officials said that they would help them manage the waste for two months, after which they would need to make their own arrangements. The dairy farmers agreed to comply.
Seechewal also directed officials of the municipal corporation and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to monitor waste water from factories and take legal action against those polluting the drain.
Earlier, bhog of Akhand Paath, which was going on at Gurdwara Gaughat for three days, took place. Addressing the gathering, Seechewal held previous governments responsible for polluted rivers and drains of Punjab and said that the current state government could not evade responsibility either. Calling for greater public participation, he cited the revival of the holy Bein and said that its water was now safe to drink. He said that instead of criticising anyone at this time, people should work together and maintain a positive attitude towards natural resources.
During a meeting with officials at the office of the 225 MLD treatment plant, Seechewal discussed delay in operationalisation of the pumping station near Gaughat. He instructed them to get it started as soon as possible, adding that it would ensure that the dirty water flowing into Buddha Dariya reached the treatment plant. He also asked the drainage department to release 200 cusecs of water into Buddha Dariya within 10 days.
On this occasion, corporation officials assured that all arrangements would be made for this.
A team of officials from the Central Pollution Control Board also reached the city on Tuesday. They are collecting samples from various points in the Buddha Dariya. The officials checked working of the common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) at Tajpur Road and Bahadur K Road. The CPCB had conducted sampling a few months back and said that requisite standards had not been achieved. However, representatives of the dyeing industry claimed to have fulfilled the norms. The CPCB got sampling done again to remove this objection and because the Centre is getting a study of the Buddha Dariya done. Besides, cases pertaining to the Buddha Dariya are going on in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and sampling is required there too.
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