On Wednesday, Rajya Sabha MP and environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal convened a meeting with administrative officials in Punjab to address the pollution issues affecting Buddha Nullah. The MP urged officials to enforce strict measures to maintain the cleanliness of the Nullah and expressed his intention to personally advance the cleanup efforts.
In a conversation with journalists following the meeting, Seechewal detailed discussions on several concerns, including pollution from local dairies and the deteriorating condition of Buddha Nullah.
Buddha Nullah, a 14-km stream that traverses Ludhiana, suffers from severe pollution due to substantial quantities of toxic waste and approximately 200 MLD of untreated sewage being discharged daily. This pollution significantly impacts the Sutlej River, which the Nullah feeds into. The Punjab government had allocated Rs 650 crore in 2020 for the Nullah’s rejuvenation project.
“The Buddha Nullah accounts for 90 percent of the pollution in the Sutlej River. The contaminated water is then spread through canals for irrigation across Malwa and parts of Rajasthan. Buddha Nullah, once a clear stream and a hub of social activity in Ludhiana, is now the most toxic water body in Punjab, affecting over two crore people in Punjab and Rajasthan,” said Ludhiana Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu in 2020.
Seechewal supported the Assembly Committee’s call for a CBI investigation into the rejuvenation project to address any potential irregularities. He also highlighted that, like the Kali Bein rivulet, Buddha Nullah will be cleaned with the blessing of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The MP discussed the treatment plants set up to combat pollution during his meeting with officials and noted the adverse health effects faced by residents in Ludhiana, as well as parts of Rajasthan and Punjab. He also called for the shutdown of industrial plants contributing to pollution in the state.