Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal on Wednesday instructed the Municipal Corporation (MC) Ludhiana and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to impose Environment Compensation (EC) on the dairy units that are polluting Buddha Dariya by disposing cow dung into it. During a meeting with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney, MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi, and officials from PPCB, drainage, rural development, and others to review the Buddha Dariya rejuvenation project, MP Seechewal emphasized the commitment of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann to clean the Buddha Dariya.
MP Seechewal stated that government funds are being utilized to clean the Buddha Dariya, and officials must take strict measures to stop the pollution. He stressed that punitive action must be taken against those at fault. He also asked officials to ban cattle grazing on the sides of Buddha Dariya where saplings have been planted in recent months.
MP Seechewal also ordered PPCB officials to take strict action against dyeing industries that are dumping untreated waste into MC sewer lines. The officials have been tasked with identifying units releasing hazardous heavy metals into the Buddha Dariya.
Discussions were held on various aspects of the Buddha Dariya rejuvenation project, including solid waste management, the functioning of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), and so on. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney informed MP Seechewal that more than 70 FIRs have already been registered against dairy owners who were found dumping cow dung into the Buddha Dariya in the past.
In most cases, electricity connections have also been disconnected. She asked the MC and PPCB to issue show-cause notices against defaulting dairy units and later impose EC as per the norms. MP Seechewal said that like Kali Bein, Buddha Dariya is also a part of our Heritage and it holds religious importance as Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited the Dariya site near Gurdwara Gau Ghat.
The residents who are dumping the waste/garbage in the dariya are committing heinous crimes as the Buddha Dariya merges into river Sutlej, which is further a drinking water source for a large number of residents in Rajasthan and Punjab as well. MP Seechewal emphasized that the state government is dedicated to making Rangla Punjab and sincere efforts are being made to clean the Buddha Dariya.