Bajwa questions Seechewal’s model of cleaning ponds; says advanced solutions required

In a reply to environmentalist and Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Budget Session of the Punjab Assembly, who has been justifying the efficacy of his model of cleaning village ponds, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa today said the “success” of the model was debatable.

“We should not hastily dismiss the expertise and deep understanding that engineers bring to the table, particularly the talented graduates emerging from India’s premier institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College (GNE) and Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology. Engineering has long been a cornerstone of human progress and welfare, driving innovations that shape our world. In Punjab alone, these esteemed institutes have produced countless professionals who contribute to society. If we begin to doubt their capabilities, are we prepared to undermine the very institutions that foster such talent?” he sought to know.

Seechewal had recently claimed that his model had begun to purify the Buddha Dariya in Ludhiana district. This water body, once a vital resource, has been choked by industrial effluents, untreated sewage and dairy waste, earning it a reputation as one of the region’s most polluted rivers.

My water conservation model a success, others failed: Seechewal

Bajwa said, “Seechewal’s approach, which gained fame for reviving the Kali Bein rivulet, relies on natural treatment methods and community participation rather than advanced engineering solutions. His claim has faced scrutiny."

“Social media influencers and activists have challenged Seechewal’s narrative, sharing videos that reveal that Buddha Dariya’s waters remain visibly polluted, laden with toxic foam, waste and a persistent stench. These accounts suggest that the river still suffers from the unchecked discharge of industrial and domestic waste, raising doubts about the model’s impact in this context,” he added.

The CLP leader further said, “If the Seechewal model was truly a resounding success, one might wonder why it hasn’t been more widely adopted. For instance, the Yamuna river in Delhi is a lifeline-turned-sewer due to decades of pollution. In 2016, then Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra had praised the Seechewal model, promising to implement it to rejuvenate the Yamuna. Arvind Kejriwal’s government even sent officials to study it. Yet, nearly a decade later, the Yamuna remains heavily polluted, with untreated sewage and industrial waste continuing to plague its waters. If the model was as effective as claimed, why didn’t Kejriwal’s administration succeed in applying it to Delhi’s crisis? This gap between promise and outcome invites skepticism about its effectiveness in tackling complex urban pollution challenges.”