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Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Waste treatment plants face hefty fines amid violations
Even as the state and central government have pumped in crores of rupees for the construction of sewage and effluent treatment infrastructure in Ludhiana, these facilities have come under serious scrutiny for repeated environmental violations. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has slapped environmental compensation (EC) running into crores on various common effluent treatment plants (CETPs), effluent treatment plants (ETPs), and sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the city for failing to comply with environmental norms in the past few years. In several orders issued over the past few years, the PPCB has pointed to a consistent failure in plant operations, ranging from non-functioning equipment to untreated discharge being released into natural drains. While the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC), in its defence, has submitted that it completed the construction of several STPs and handed them over to the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the penalties continue to be imposed due to lapses during operational control and maintenance periods. According to officials, these violations indicate serious negligence on the part of the civic body and related departments. While crores have been spent on the construction of these plants, environmental compensation of almost equal magnitude has been levied — reflecting systemic issues in their operation and monitoring. Among the biggest violators is the CETP at Bahadur Ke. In a series of five different EC orders issued between October 2022 and January 2025, a total penalty of nearly ₹10 crore has been imposed. Similarly, the 50 MLD CETP near the Central Jail on Tajpur Road has faced six EC orders in just four months between September 2024 and January 2025, with fines totalling over ₹5 crore. The 40 MLD CETP at Focal Point was hit with a ₹2.96 crore penalty this March. Meanwhile, STPs at Balloke and Bhattian have also faced fines ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹68 lakh each. Environmental compensation has also been imposed due to the non-installation of CETPs for dairy complexes, with the PPCB issuing a ₹3.6 crore penalty in March 2023. Environmental experts have raised concerns about the mounting penalties, warning that unless strict accountability and timely corrective measures are implemented, the city will continue to face both ecological damage and financial loss. The situation reflects a dual failure- massive investments made into the infrastructure on one hand, and a string of costly environmental penalties on the other. With EC orders continuing, the civic body is now under pressure to not only fix the operational gaps but also ensure that environmental safeguards are genuinely implemented on ground. PPCB chief RK Rattra said, 'The EC has been imposed by the PPCB during past few years and regular action is also being taken against offenders. Few of the compensations have been deposited but rest remain yet to be submitted by the departments and CETPs.' Rajya Sabha MP, Balbir Singh Seechewal said, 'The 2.25 MLD ETP, which was made few years ago on Tajpur Road at the cost of ₹9 crore but EC imposed on this plant is more than ₹3 crore which is a sheer wastage and pressure on common people as this is taxpayers' money. I request the MC officials and other departments to dispose of the cow dung at Tajpur Road dairy complex area so that the ETP can run properly and cow dung is not released into the Buddha Nullah.'
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: ₹1.1k-cr project planned to tackle Buddha Nullah groundwater crisis
In a significant move to combat Punjab's severe groundwater depletion and rejuvenate the polluted Buddha Nullah, the soil conservation department has unveiled a ₹1,050-crore proposal to repurpose treated wastewater for agriculture and forestry. This initiative, inspired by recommendations from the vidhan sabha committee on Buddha Nullah and Ghaggar river, aims to lessen the strain on groundwater and mitigate environmental pollution. Nidhi Batta, divisional soil conservation officer, confirmed the detailed plan for transporting and reusing treated water from Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in the Lower Buddha Nullah for irrigation. Punjab, an agrarian state, faces alarming declines in groundwater levels and quality, with existing water conservation efforts proving insufficient. The government now seeks to utilize vast quantities of municipal wastewater, often discharged untreated, as a valuable resource. Reusing treated water can fulfill irrigation needs, generate revenue for maintenance, and significantly reduce pollution. Phased implementation for domestic and dairy waste water The proposal's primary component, 'Proposal A,' focuses on reusing 555 MLD (million litres per day) of domestic and dairy wastewater through a four-stage, ₹1,051.36-crore plan. Stage I involves using treated water from Sahnewal (7 MLD) and Jamalpur (25 MLD) STPs to irrigate 400 and 1,500 acres of farmland, respectively, costing ₹4.33 crore and ₹10.90 crore. Stage II, costing ₹276.30 crore, will see a major infrastructure upgrade to transport 206 MLD from Jamalpur STP to Balloke STP via a 14.5-km HDPE pipeline. Stage III, at ₹459.14 crore, entails moving 523 MLD from Balloke STP to Walipur village through a 17-km underground pipeline connecting to Lower Buddha Nullah. Finally, Stage IV, costing ₹300.69 crore, will establish 22 lift irrigation ponds along Lower Buddha Nullah to utilize treated water, aiding its revival and reducing pollution. Industrial wastewater and key challenges 'Proposal B' addresses the reuse of 165 MLD of industrial wastewater, estimated at ₹103.25 crore. Treated effluents from existing and proposed Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) will be transported for reuse across 2,300 acres of forest land in the Mattewara region. The combined cost of both proposals totals ₹1,154.61 crore. A significant challenge lies in the separate collection of domestic, dairy, and industrial wastewater, as illegal discharge of industrial effluents into domestic sewers disrupts treatment. Managing dairy waste, rich in solids, also requires attention, with a need for Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants by Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA). Officials stress that the project's success hinges on the active support of all stakeholder departments, emphasizing that proper infrastructure and treatment are crucial to realizing the full benefits of this substantial investment. The reuse of treated water is envisioned as a sustainable solution to Punjab's water crisis, reducing reliance on borewells and restoring Buddha Nullah's ecological balance.
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
2 minors drown at Seechewal event; activists seek FIR
A day after two minor boys drowned in Buddha Nullah on Tajpur road in Ludhiana during a religious event organised by AAP Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal, city environmentalists and activists demanded an FIR and a thorough probe into the incident, questioning how 'ghats could be allowed on the banks of a polluted stream without any safety checks'. Seechewal has been doing 'sewa' by cleaning the polluted Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana for the past few months. At the ghat where the incident took place, he had organised 'ardaas' (prayer gathering) on Sunday and had invited people to participate in the event. He had posted the invitation on his official Facebook page, reading that the event was organised to pray for 'Sarbat da bhala' (wellbeing of all) and 'vishav vich sukh shaanti' (world peace). He claimed in the invite that the Buddha Nullah water was 'comparatively clean' near the Central Jail on Tajpur road where the event was organised. The families of both minors — Abhay Kumar, 15, and Gurjeet Singh, 13 — who drowned on Sunday, alleged that organisers had made no safety arrangements, while the organisers claimed that the children were repeatedly warned 'not to go towards the side where water was deep'. Demanding an FIR and a thorough probe into the incident, activists and environmentalists under the umbrella of the Public Action Committee (PAC), in a statement questioned that 'how such ghats were allowed to open at first place, and that too in the polluted waters of Buddha Nullah laden with industrial chemicals and effluents'. PAC member Kuldeep Singh Khaira said, 'The drowning incident needs a very quick and high-level investigation after registration of an FIR under appropriate sections of the BNS.' 'In the first place, how were such ghats allowed next to the outlets of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) by the government, and which officials gave permission? What was the need for such ghats when the primary demand was to stop industrial effluents? Which officer did the safety audits of these ghats? Why has no FIR so far been registered? Where is accountability? Will anyone be held responsible for the two deaths?' questioned Jaskirat Singh, another PAC member. The PAC has been alleging that Seechewal is using 'unscientific methods' to clean the Buddha Nullah laden with industrial effluents and chemicals from industries, and questioned how poisonous chemicals can be removed from the stream by doing a 'kar sewa'? Kapil Dev, an engineer and a PAC member, said, 'These ghats should be named 'Akal Di Ghat' (lack of wisdom) and 'Sharam Di Ghat' (lack of shame) as they were not for any productive purpose or cleaning of the stream but simply due to a tearing hurry of the government and Baba Seechewal to take credit before cleaning the stream. On the one hand, the government is not following NGT orders despite multiple reminders to stop illegal CETPs, while on the other, they are in such a hurry to create ghats which have nothing to do with cleaning of the river.' Seechewal, meanwhile, expressed his 'sadness' over the incident and said, 'The event was organised to celebrate the 'ceasefire' between India and Pakistan. What happened was truly unfortunate. People were asked not to go to the side where the nullah was deep, but they still went despite this. Inspector Bhupinder Singh at the Division Number 7 police station said no FIR had been registered so far into the incident. 'We have filed inquest proceedings as it was a tragedy,' he said.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Keep Yamuna pollution free: Haryana CM
Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday reiterated the state government's resolve to keep the Yamuna river free from pollution and directed the authorities to ensure that untreated or contaminated water is not discharged into the river. He said that in places where industrial waste is currently flowing into the Yamuna river, the common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) must be set up without delay. Saini instructed officials to prepare a proposal for CETP projects in the concerned cities. During a review meeting the chief minister suggested that a system be developed to utilise the treated water from CETPs for irrigation purposes, thereby promoting sustainable water management. While directing the departments concerned to ensure the cleaning and strengthening of all water harvesting and groundwater recharge structures before the onset of the monsoon, Saini said that the objective of these efforts is to maximise rainwater storage and improving groundwater level. An official spokesperson said that Haryana State Drought Relief and Flood Control Board had approved 209 short-term projects worth ₹282 crore. Of these, work is currently underway on 103 projects, while the remaining are in various stages of approval. It was also informed that the cleaning of all drains in the state will be completed by June 30. Complete all short-term projects before monsoon Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday reviewed progress of the ongoing short-term projects across the state ahead of the monsoon season. He directed concerned officials to complete all essential work on a priority basis before the monsoon. 'Any kind of negligence in this regard will not be tolerated,' Saini said while chairing a meeting with officials of the irrigation and water resources, public health engineering and urban local bodies departments. Saini directed that all the drains and minors in the state should be cleaned immediately to prevent water logging and potential flood situations during the rainy season. He instructed officials to strengthen riverbeds by de-silting the Saraswati, Markanda and Tangri rivers to maintain the natural flow of water. 'All the dams in the state should be inspected in advance and if any deficiency or damage is found anywhere, it should be repaired promptly,' he added. Reviewing the condition of khaals (water channels), the chief minister instructed officials to compile a list of all over 20 years old khaals so that an action plan can be prepared for their cleaning and repair.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Drowning of 2 boys in Buddha Dariya: PAC seeks registration of FIR
Ludhiana: After two boys drowned in an under-construction bathing ghat near Ram Das Nagar, activists of the Public Action Committee (PAC), Mattewara, raised questions about public safety and demanded accountability in the case. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Calling for registration of an FIR against those responsible, they urged authorities to check whether these ghats were fit for bathing, as similar incidents could occur in the member Kuldeep Singh Khaira, said, "The most unfortunate incident involving the drowning of two young boys of Ludhiana in Buddha Dariya needs a very quick and high-level investigation after registration of FIR." He questioned how the government allowed such ghats next to outlets of CETPs and which officials gave permissions. He also questioned the need for such ghats when the primary demand was stopping of industrial effluents and asked whether any safety audits were carried out. He also asked why no FIR had been registered so far and who was responsible for the two Kapil Dev and Jaskirat Singh said that the ghats did not serve a practical purpose. They claimed that the state government had made the ghats to take credit for making Buddha Dariya pollution-free without addressing the root cause of the problem. On one hand, the govt is not following NGT orders despite multiple reminders by the green tribunal to stop illegal CETPs. On the other hand, they are in a rush to create such structures, which have nothing to do with cleaning the a direct attack on environmentalist, MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, activist Dr Amandeep Bains said, "Baba Seechewal is continuing with his unscientific ways, which can be harmful and dangerous. The news of children drowning at his ghats has not deterred him. He has started removing sludge from the Tibba Road area. Flow of industrial effluents has not been stopped, three CETPs of the dyeing industry are still spewing chemicals, and Seechewal is removing sludge and opening recharge channels of the river. What kind of water will recharge to the ground? Will it not be industrial effluents that will percolate down into the groundwater of Ludhiana? Who will take responsibility for that?" However, supporters of MP Seechewal maintained that no one was supposed to bathe in the ghat, which was still under construction. They claimed that they were still levelling the drain at that point so that people could bathe there without issues. Meanwhile, cleaning of the drain at Tajpur Road continued on Monday as per the daily Attacks CM MannActivists condemned CM Bhagwant Mann's claim that PAC was slamming Buddha Dariya activists for doing nothing on the issue of "water theft" by BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board) and Haryana. They claimed that the CM had questioned their absence at the dharna he was holding at Nangal against the BBMB chairman. They maintained that they had already issued statements in support of the rights of Punjab on its waters. The activists said that their team was contesting multiple NGT cases against the Punjab government, including those of illegal CETPs of the Ludhiana dyeing industry and illegal reverse boring by Malbros at Zira. They said that the CM and state government were not following NGT orders to shut down illegal CETPs of the dyeing industry. MSID:: 121110630 413 |
