Open house: What needs to be done to make buddha nullah pollution-free?

Collective efforts need of the hour

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The Sutlej provides a lifeline for millions of people in Punjab. However, rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and agricultural practices have resulted in widespread pollution, endangering the health of the river and the communities. One of the most significant sources of pollution in the Sutlej tributary is the discharge of untreated industrial and domestic wastewater by Buddha Nullah, a seasonal stream that runs through Ludhiana. Many factories in this industrial town discharge chemicals and heavy metals and city residents dump untreated sewage waste directly into the Buddha Nullah, which flows into Sutlej. The government plays an important role in freeing the Sutlej tributary of pollution and preserving it. Pollution control laws must be strictly enforced, with penalties for illegal waste dumping. Industries must be equipped with effective treatment plants, and local governments should invest in expanding sewage treatment capacity. Public awareness campaigns about the negative consequences of dumping waste and chemicals into rivers should also be prioritised. Furthermore, reforestation efforts, combined with the establishment of riparian buffer zones, can improve water quality by serving as natural runoff filters. Only by working together can we ensure that the Sutlej remains a vital and healthy water source for future generations.

Novin Christopher

Fences must be erected on both sides of nullah

Once upon a time Buddha Nullah was a river with clean and clear water. Unfortunately, it has now turned into a stinky and dirty stream. Residents living in its surroundings are bearing the brunt of foul smell and risk getting infected. Various efforts have been made to get it clean even by releasing fresh water from Sutlej into it, but all in vain. The local and the state government can get it cleaned if they have strong will. The first step is plugging all those units which are polluting it, mainly the dying factories. Those who are releasing acid water and other polluted effluents must be punished and their factories should be locked. A stretch should be allocated to one organisation or big industrialist to get it cleaned. The second way that the local government should allow the people to open their shops and establishments on lease. They shall be responsible to get it cleaned. Fences must be erected on both sides of Buddha Nullah. Third, each and every citizen of the city should pledge not to throw any waste into it. Only then it will be cleaned and its past glory may be restored.

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Impose heavy fine on those polluting it

Many steps have been taken to clean Buddha Nullah in the past. Various grants have been received from the World Bank to clean it. Teams from the Centre have visited and tried their best, but the problem persists. Water from Sutlej has been released into the nullah, but it’s still dirty and stinky. The problem may get resolved to an extent if dying factories stop releasing water into it. A heavy fine should be imposed on those who are throwing waste in it. Fencing must be erected on both sides of Buddha Nullah and plants must be grown along it. There must be some official who should visit periodically to inspect the progress of work. Help from some social organisation must be taken. Each must come forward to assist the local government.

Farzana Khan

Comprehensive approach required

To effectively reduce pollution in Buddha Nullah, a comprehensive approach is required. Two key solutions are strict enforcement of environmental standards and the improvement and expansion of sewage treatment plants (STP). Industries that discharge untreated wastewater must be held accountable by strict monitoring, heavy fines and regular inspections. This will discourage future violations and encourage compliance with pollution control regulations. Existing STPs should be improved with modern technologies in order to better treat wastewater. Additionally, more STPs should be built to handle rising population and industrial growth. This will drastically lower the volume of untreated wastewater entering the nullah. Furthermore, supporting sustainable industrial practices and raising public awareness can help to reduce pollution in the long run. Industries should be encouraged to use cleaner manufacturing technology and zero-liquid discharge practices. Public awareness campaigns can educate the public on the value of clean water and the consequences of pollution. Implementing these strategies has the potential to restore Buddha Nullah’s ecological health and assure the region’s long-term viability.

Tamanpreet Kaur Khangura

Encroachments should be removed

The “Buddha Darya” was once known for its clean water, but lately people have started calling it “Buddha Nullah” because the untreated effluents, sewage, garbage and dirty waste were being dumped in the water body, making it polluted. The polluted water gets discharged into the Sutlej at Walipur village. According to Balbir Singh Seechewal, a well-known environmentalist, Buddha Nullah is the most toxic water body in the state, threatening the lives of over 2 crore people in Punjab and Rajasthan. Slum-dwellers who live near the nullah, consume contaminated water, which causes cancer, skin and stomach diseases. The polluted waters are now entering various villages, making lives miserable. Called “Kale Pani Da Morcha”, the protests by people from the states of Punjab and Rajasthan a few days back, demanded the closure of the CETPs outlets into the Buddha Nullah, blaming the dyeing and other industrial units for causing the widespread pollution. The PPCB should take strict action against the errant industrial units. More STPs, ETPs and CETPs should be installed at appropriate locations to clean domestic and industrial waste. Stop direct discharge into the nullah from Tajpur Road and Haibowal dairy complex units. Disconnect domestic sewage outlets that discharge effluents into stormwater sewers. Slum colonies that discharge untreated sewage into the nullah should be relocated. Solid waste should not be dumped into the nullah. Illegal encroachments should be removed from either side of the stream. As responsible citizens, we should limit the use of detergents and other chemicals

in our daily lives.

RS SEMBHI

Conduct survey to identify pollutants

First of all, a survey must be conducted to know the source of pollutants. Then, these must be told to stop releasing effluents into the Buddha Nullah and transport the discharge to water treatment plants. They must also be advised about the nature, availability and cost of the plants for purifying water from pollutants. The polluters must be told to treat the water before discharging in the water body. Only safe water should be allowed to be added into the tributary. If these polluters do not stop from adding polluted water, they must be heavily fined. The authorities have to be strict in this matter and should not play with the lives of people living around the ‘Buddha Nullah’ tributary and those using such water from the river. These harsh steps must be taken to stop addition of polluted water in the ‘Buddha Nullah’ tributary to save the water in

the Sutlej from pollution.

Gautam Dev

Industries should not dump waste

Preservation of Sutlej tributary from pollution is of utmost importance. Combination of legal, administrative and public support is necessary and laws should be followed strictly by the public. Industries should not dump waste in the stream. The government should hold these industries accountable through fines or penalties. The local community also play role in protecting natural resources. Awareness campaigns should be held to increase the awareness about the harmful effects of water pollution and correct way to dispose the waste. After every few days, efforts should be made to clean the Buddha Nullah and remove the harmful substances and restore the natural ecosystem by planting aquatic plants and improving water quality. By following these measures, we can combat with the problem and Sutlej tributary can be preserved.

Japleen kaur

Group of officials to submit report

The deterioration of water quality of Buddha Nullah as well as Sutlej on the whole even after completion of Buddha Nullah rejuvenation project involving huge expenditure is a matter of serious concern. We have formed a joint Centre-State group of senior officials and experts from both Delhi and Punjab to diagnose the issues concerning persisting pollution in Buddha Nullah. The group shall submit its report within one month, following which we shall launch an action plan to clean and preserve not only the Sutlej tributary but also the river. DEBASHREE MUKHERJEE, SECRETARY, WATER RESOURCES, MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI