PAC rebukes Punjab CM, Balbir Singh Seechewal over remarks against activists, deaths of two children
In a sharp rebuttal to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent comments against Buddha Dariya activists, and following the drowning of two boys during a “ghat snan” event near industrial effluent discharge points, allegedly organised by Seechewal and his team, the Public Action Committee (PAC), Mattewara, has issued a statement, condemning the government’s hypocrisy and negligence.
It came in the backdrop of Bhagwant Mann needling activists of the Buddha Dariya over “doing nothing” on the issue of water theft by the BBMB and Haryana and the unfortunate incident of two boys drowning during a ‘ghat snan’ event of Seechewal near outlets of dyeing industry CETPs.
The statement of the PAC states: “The CM has questioned our absence at the dharna he is holding at Nangal against the BBMB Chairman and also about not giving any statement over the issue. Firstly, he is lying as we have already given statements in support of rights of Punjab on its waters many times. Secondly, it is curious as to why the CM expects activists and farmers to help him at his dharna when we are busy resolving problems created by him only. Our team is fighting multiple serious NGT cases against the state government, including those of illegal CETPs of the Ludhiana dyeing industry and illegal reverse boring by Malbros at Zira.
“The CM and his government are not following even the NGT orders to shut the illegal CETPs of the dyeing industry. He has not ordered permanent closure of Malbros despite their clear indictment by the Central Pollution Control Board for reverse boring polluted effluents into the groundwater. On April 30, his government has held a public hearing at Sri Chamkaur Sahib in an attempt to establish Ruchira paper mill on 200 acres, which is a red category highly polluting industry, right on the bank of the Buddha Dariya and 200 m from Neelon Canal for which we are battling hard with his administration to stop the project. Where is the time to go to his dharna? We are fixing the mess the government has created.”
Dr Amandeep Bains and Col JS Gill of the PAC said: “In his statement, the CM claimed that he has allowed 500 cusecs through the Indira Gandhi canal for drinking water needs of our armed forces in Rajasthan for the war with Pakistan. What he did not mention was that it goes via Sutlej mixed with effluents of the Buddha Dariya. He is giving polluted water to our armed forces for their drinking water needs, which contains chemicals of dyeing and electroplating industries of Ludhiana. This amounts to treason.”
Kuldeep Singh Khaira of the PAC said, “The most unfortunate incident involving drowning of two young boys of Ludhiana during the ‘ghat snan’ event of Seechewal needs a quick and high-level investigation after registration of a FIR under various sections of the BNS.
The PAC has raised questions such as how were such ghats allowed in the first place next to outlets of CETPs by the government and who gave permission for the same, what was the need for such ghats when primary demand was stoppage of industrial effluents, which officer did safety audits of such ghats and why no FIR has been registered when two innocent lives were lost.
Kapil Dev and Jaskirat Singh said these ghats should be named ‘akal di ghat” and ‘sharam di ghat’ as they were not for any productive purpose or cleaning of the river but simply due to the hurry of the government and Seechewal to take credit before even the task of pollution-free Buddha Dariya was achieved.
