Buddha Dariya Revival Faces Major Setback After Inspection Reveals Negligence
Environmental efforts to revive Ludhiana's Buddha Dariya have hit a serious roadblock. Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal flagged severe negligence by private contractors during a recent site inspection.
Private Firm Bypasses Filtration Protocols
The clean-up campaign encountered problems at the Tajpur Dairy Complex. Seechewal reprimanded representatives of a private firm after his inspection. He discovered that untreated wastewater and animal urine were discharging directly into the river. This discharge completely bypassed established filtration protocols.
The private company responsible for waste management at the complex failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the breach. Officials noted that while solid waste was being managed properly, liquid urine waste was flowing into Buddha Dariya. This liquid waste carries a high pollutant load.
'Seechewal Model' Filtration System Tampered With
The inspection revealed troubling details about the temporary filtration system near the Amrit Dharam Kanda bridge. This system follows the "Seechewal Model" for river cleanup. Someone had tampered with this important filtration setup.
The system currently uses three specialised ponds designed to settle solids. These ponds allow for the removal of about seventeen tipper-loads of cow dung every single day. However, the recent negligence has compromised this effective system.
Stark Contrast to Previous Restoration Milestones
This current negligence stands in stark contrast to the environmental milestones achieved over the past twelve months. The restoration campaign has made significant progress under Seechewal's leadership until now.
Previously, 165 million litres per day of raw sewage from the municipal corporation flowed directly into Buddha Dariya. Workers have successfully diverted this sewage to a new 225 MLD treatment plant. They have also blocked waste from seventy-nine rural dairies from entering the waterway.
Independent reports confirmed visible improvement in water clarity and quality before these recent lapses. The campaign achieved major successes through sewage diversion and rural intervention programs.
Environmentalists Warn of Campaign Undermining
Environmental activists are raising serious concerns about the situation. They warn that certain departments might be deliberately undermining the cleanup campaign. Such actions could undo months of careful restoration work.
A spokesperson for the movement made an emotional appeal to residents. "Buddha Dariya represents a collective responsibility and a trust for future generations," the spokesperson stated. "After years of dedicated effort, we finally have visible results. Residents must now raise their voices against officials and companies who continue to pollute with impunity."
The call for public accountability grows stronger as the river's revival faces this critical challenge. The community must decide whether to protect their hard-won environmental gains or watch them disappear through negligence.
