Kali Bein reborn, Buddha Nullah still gasping

PUNJAB CM Bhagwant Mann’s promise, made at the 25th anniversary of the Kali Bein project on Wednesday, to step up efforts to clean Ludhiana’s Buddha Nullah is welcome. But promises need to be followed by firm action, with citizens as partners, not mere spectators. The transformation of the 165-km-long Kali Bein from a polluted drain into a rejuvenated lifeline offers a template for cleaning the Buddha Nullah. The Buddha, once a clean stream, is today one of Punjab’s stubborn environmental challenges: a toxic channel choked by industrial effluents and untreated sewage from Ludhiana and surrounding areas. Despite over Rs 2,000 crore spent on clean-up efforts over the years, little has changed on the ground. It is a case study in mismanagement, neglect and lack of sustained political will.