Activists decry polluted Buddha Dariya in Ludhiana, proposed paper mill on its banks

Ludhiana: The Public Action Committee (PAC) Mattewara and the Chamkaur Sahib Morcha members on Sunday conducted a joint visit to the Buddha Dariya near Chand Cinema, where they collected samples of the polluted water. The activists exposed govt claims about the drain's cleanliness and warned that the people of Punjab need to be vigilant.

They said there was no change in the condition of the drain and it was difficult to bear the foul smell and people were actually consuming this water. The government as well as Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal were claiming that they had improved the condition of the drain, activists said.

The members claimed that recently, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had sent a report to the Central govt regarding proposed Ruchira Paper Mill on the banks of Buddha Dariya, which resulted in a victory for the people. The report was submitted after a public hearing was held on April 30 in Chamkaur Sahib, where residents strongly opposed the establishment of the polluting industry.

The public hearing was attended by over a thousand residents, including senior citizens, women, and youth, who unanimously opposed the mill. Despite attempts by corporate interests, politicians, and govt officials to push the project through, the people of the region successfully resisted the proposal.

Jaskirat Singh, an active member of group said, the PPCB report had been praised for its accurate documentation of the public hearing, despite pressure from vested interests. He further stated that a legal activist had also pointed out that the proposed mill violated environmental regulations, as it would be located within 500 meters of a water source.

Another activist Kapil Arora mentioned that the Buddha Dariya and the Neelon Canal flowed close to the site, and the mill's operation would pose a significant threat to these water bodies. The Neelon Canal is expected to supply drinking water to Ludhiana city soon, and the Buddha Dariya is already polluted and infamous for spreading cancer in southern Punjab and Rajasthan, he said.

The PAC and Chamkaur Sahib Morcha members have appealed to the people of Punjab to support their campaign and send their opinions to the ministry of environment, forest and climate change to prevent the mill from getting environmental clearance. The activists have thanked the people of Punjab for their support and have vowed to continue the fight against the polluting industry.