Seechewal vows to clean Kali Bein, addresses environmental, farmer issues in Kapurthala

Rajya Sabha Member and environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal launched two major initiatives in Kapurthala on Saturday, focusing on environmental conservation and rural sustainability. His visit cantered on addressing the ongoing pollution of the sacred Kali Bein and highlighting broader ecological and agricultural issues that he plans to raise in Parliament.

During his visit, Seechewal announced that the flow of polluted water from four villages into the 165-km-long Kali Bein would be halted within three months. The river, revered for its association with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, continues to suffer from pollution caused by two villages in each of Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts. Seechewal stated he would personally meet the Deputy Commissioners of both districts to discuss a viable solution. The plan includes diverting and treating wastewater for agricultural use, thereby preventing it from contaminating the Bein.

On the same occasion, Seechewal was conferred the title “Punjab Pania Da Rakha” by a local voluntary organisation in recognition of his decades-long contributions to water body restoration. Reflecting on the 25 years of kar sewa (selfless service) undertaken by him and his followers, he recalled how they transformed the heavily polluted Kali Bein into a symbol of community-driven environmental action.

Seechewal also provided updates on his ongoing work to clean the Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana, where his team has been working for over seven months. To date, the flow of dirty water from seven out of eight contributing villages has been stopped, and 79 polluting dairies have ceased dumping waste into the nullah. However, untreated sewage from the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation remains a challenge, with the National Green Tribunal granting the civic body time until October 1 to halt its discharge. Currently, 18 km of the 45-km Buddha Nullah has been cleaned, with work continuing on the remaining stretch.

Later that day, at a plantation drive organised at the District Administrative Complex (DAC), Seechewal shifted his focus to his broader legislative agenda. Seechewal also outlined his priorities for the current Parliament session, which include addressing illegal migration through stricter regulation of fraudulent travel agents, tackling key concerns of farmers such as crop sustainability, fair pricing, and irrigation infrastructure, and advocating for stronger environmental protections at the national level.