Ludhiana MC mum on Sutlej pollution due to waste going in Buddha Nullah
The Central Pollution Control Board has sought a report from the MC commissioner over the status of the 12 outlets of the civic body that release untreated effluents into the Buddha Nullah that meets the Sutlej river at Walipur village. While the municipal corporation has turned a blind eye towards this issue, the Buddha Nullah has long polluted the waters of the river.
The Central Pollution Control Board has sought a report from the MC commissioner over the status of the 12 outlets of the civic body that release untreated effluents into the Buddha Nullah that meets the Sutlej river at Walipur village. While the municipal corporation has turned a blind eye towards this issue, the Buddha Nullah has long polluted the waters of the river.
The two contrasting shades of water, black on the Ludhiana side and relatively clear on the other, are visible at this juncture.
Domestic and industrial effluents flow into the Buddha Nullah from different places on a daily basis, making it one of the most polluted areas in the city.
COMPLAINT LODGED IN JULY
The contaminated water has not only polluted the Sutlej but also the ground water of nearby areas. The civic body has, in the past, introduced multiple cleaning projects but in vain. Following a complaint about the 12 outlets in July, the pollution control body had requested the MC commissioner to look into the matter but it received no reply.
On September 26, it sent another letter to the MC and asked him to file a report at the earliest. Rohit Sabharwal, the complainant in the case, claimed that the MC had failed to stop the release of untreated waste into the Buddha Nullah, which was in turn polluting Sutlej waters.
AWATING DPR FROM COMPANY
According to villagers who live along the Buddha Nullah, the polluted water is a constant cause of multiple health problems for them but the government has failed to provide any relief.
Around two years back, the state government planned to make the nullah pollution free and Engineers India Limited (EIL) was assigned the task to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the same.
Though the DPR was prepared, the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) raised objections over some points. Executive engineer of PWSSB, Jagmohan Singh, said the EIL was yet to submit the revised DPR.
Superintending engineer of MC, Ravinder Garg, claimed that there were 16 such outlets. Of them, the MC had closed seven, he added.
He further said the EIL was preparing the DPR under which the sewerage treatment plants will also be upgraded. After the upgradation of the plants, the waste from remaining outlets will also be treated before being released into the Buddha Nullah, he said.