Ludhiana activists echo green message at fourth leg Save Buddha Dariya, Sutlej walk

Continuing to spread awareness and a green message, members of the Save Buddha Darya and the Satluj river drive on Sunday organised a “padyatra” from the Dhanashu Bridge

Continuing to spread awareness and a green message, members of the Save Buddha Darya and the Satluj river drive on Sunday organised a “padyatra” from the Dhanashu Bridge.

Activists and city residetns holding up banners and placards to spread awareness about the rising pollution levels in region during a the fourth leg of the Save Buddha Darya and River Satluj walk in Ludhiana (HT Photo)

Team leader of the drive’s fourth phase Col JS Gill led the walk. Highlighting the continued environmental degradation in the region in his address, he said, “A complete sea change was visible on the degradation aspects of river ecology. Impact of gradual transformation of the Dhanashu Bridge from a fresh water stream to toxic drain could be seen due to the industrial and urban pollution alongwith with the diminishing green cover.”

Notably, a big portion of dairy and industrial waste discharge can be seen near areas like Bhukhri, Khassi Khurd/Khassi Kallan Bridge as well as the Dhananshu Industrial Park before the same flows into the Buddha Darya near the bridge.

Participants aimed at interacting with the local residents to discuss issues related to the rampant pollution as well as the state government’s efforts to develop eco-tourism, forests and biodiversity in the region of Mattewara.

Team comprising Col JS Gill, Brig Indermohan Singh, Col Iqbal Singh Pannu, Jaskirat Singh, Gurpreet Singh Plaha, Subhash Chander, VP Mishra, Dan Singh, GS Batra, Puja Sengupta, Sudhanshu Sengupta, Nishant Kohli, Gaurav Thakur and Col CM Lakhanpal participated in the walk, along with members from Haryawal Punjab, another foundation aimed at spreading the message of deforestation, Rakesh Sharda, Kamal Kataria and Harsh Garg. RS Arora, meanwhile, participated on behalf of AGAPP.

The walk also saw the participation of Nankana Sahib Public Senior Secondary School, Khassi Kallan, students and their teacher Harinder Singh.

The fifth phase of “padyatra” will begin at the Khassi Kallan/Khurd Bridge at 10 am on December 18.