1 week Ago
Ludhiana: Dairy units have once again come under the radar of the authorities over pollution conerns in Bhuddha Dariya. In a high-level meeting conducted in Chandigarh, officials from the MC, Punjab Pollution Control Board , and the drainage department were instructed to take stringent action against erring dairies. The meeting, chaired by local bodies minister Dr Ravjot Singh, included AAP MP Balbir Singh Seechewal , ruling party MLAs, and officials from the MC, PPCB, and drainage department.
In the meeting, AAP Rajya Sabha MP and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal expressed dissatisfaction with the PPCB’s performance, saying that if the officials had done their job properly, Buddha Dariya would be pollution-free by now. He advised the officials to stop the blame game and act according to the law. It was recently revealed that the pipelines installed for carrying wastewater from dairies to effluent treatment plants were damaged by unknown dairy owners.
‘Find Solution For Installing Pump Station At Gaughat ‘ Officials were also advised to find a solution for installing a pumping station near Gaughat, where a legal battle has delayed resolution, causing untreated wastewater to flow into Buddha Dariya. The pending bio-CNG plant at Tajpur Road should also be completed as soon as possible, the officials were told. The dyeing unit owners also attended the meeting and presented their case.
They cited recent water sampling of Buddha Dariya, claiming that the treated water from their common effluent treatment plants meets all standards. However, they noted that the untreated water from dairy units pollutes Buddha Dariya when mixed. They reported that the BOD of their treated water is 30, but it rises to 16,000 after mixing with dairy wastewater.
They argued that instead of supporting dairy units that have made arrangements for their wastewater, the government is trying to suppress them. Notably, civic body officials had served notices to dairy owners a few days ago, but nothing concrete has been done against those flouting the norms. AAP MP Seechewal To Sit Permanently By Drain MP Seechewal, frustrated with the attitude of officials from various departments, has announced plans to install a permanent tent by the drain and sit there if the situation is not taken seriously.
He said that they cannot allow people to suffer from the harmful effects of polluted water any longer. Dyeing Unit Owners Offer To Use Surface Water Rahul Verma, a dyeing unit owner, said: “We have proposed to the officials that we want to use surface water in our industries to reduce dependence on groundwater. We are already spending on groundwater.
We can install water supply lines similar to those in MC Ludhiana.”.
