Buddha Nullah turns into trash stream

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 21

With the civic body turning a blind eye to increasing pollution in Buddha Nullah, a large amount of solid waste, including banned thermocol (expanded polystyrene) items and poly bags, has choked the nullah near the railway bridge in the Peeru Banda area.

Earlier, the civic body had installed fences alongside the nullah at a few places to prevent littering, but to no avail. Untreated chemical waste and sewage are discharged into the nullah, which was once known as Buddha Dariya.

Rag pickers can be commonly seen risking their lives by entering the nullah in search of plastic bottles in the solid waste.

Local residents said people threw disposable articles, plastic bags, sacks full of waste and other unwanted items into the nullah and this solid waste is impeding its flow. The residents said if nullah was not cleaned timely, it would flood the nearby areas during the rainy season.

A huge quantity of solid waste has also gathered into the nullah near Shivpuri, Bajwa Nagar, Ghati Mohalla, New Madhopuri, near Chand Cinema, Chander Nagar, Dairy Complex and Jainpur.

Earlier, the MC had announced a fine of Rs 5,000 for littering nullah.

The state government has imposed a ban on manufacturing, stocking, distribution, reuse, selling and use of polythene (plastic) carry bags and thermocol material from April 1, 2016, in the urban areas. However, people continue to use these banned items which ultimately reach water bodies in the shape of garbage.

A member of the Ludhiana West Grievances Redressal Committee, Satish Thaman, said the authorities concerned were not paying any heed to stopping pollution in the nullah, which ultimately pollutes the Sutlej. “As it is a matter of great concern, the government must find out a solution to make the nullah pollution-free,” he added.

An MC official said an estimate for desilting the nullah had been sent to the higher authorities. Desilting was likely to begin from next month, he added.

In its annual budget estimates for 2017-18, the MC has proposed to spend Rs 1 crore on desilting and cleaning of the nullah.

Municipal Commissioner Jaskiran Singh was not available for comment.