Act strictly to stop dumping of cow dung into Ludhiana's Buddha Dariya: Balbir Singh Seechewal

Taking a strict note of cow dung being dumped into the ‘Buddha Dariya’, Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal directed officials to take strict action and impose environment compensation (EC), if necessary, on violators to stop dumping of cow dung.

He conducted inspections in the Haibowal Dairy Complex effluent treatment plant (ETP) established to treat dairy waste and the Balloke sewer treatment plant (STP) on Wednesday.

MC Additional Commissioner Paramdeep Singh, MC Joint Commissioner-cum-Zonal Commissioner Abhishek Sharma, Executive Engineer Ekjot Singh, MC Health Officer Vipal Malhotra and Executive Engineer (sewerage board) Balraj Singh were among other officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), PEDA and other departments who were present during the visit.

Seechewal said dumping of cow dung was not only polluting the ‘Buddha Dariya’ but also affecting the working of effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and sewer treatment plants (STPs).

While civic body officials stated that challans are issued against dairy owners from time to time, the MP directed the PPCB officials to impose environment compensation (EC) against the violators, if necessary.

Later, Seechewal also held a meeting with the officials at 225 MLD Jamalpur STP and issued necessary directions to stop the flow of cow dung and untreated industrial waste into the ‘Buddha Dariya’.

Directions were also issued to the PPCB officials to take strict action against dyeing units dumping untreated waste into the MC sewer lines or Buddha Dariya.

The MP said the state government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, was committed to make a ‘Rangla Punjab’. They appealed to residents to join hands with the government and the administration so that combined efforts could be made for saving the environment for coming generations.