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Dyeing Units Defy ZLD Deadline, Pollution Persists
16 Feb
Summary
- 19 dyeing units remain non-compliant with ZLD tech deadline.
- Untreated industrial waste pollutes city sewers and Buddha Nullah.
- Enforcement of environmental regulations is alleged to be weak.
As of February 16, 2026, a significant number of dyeing units in the city have failed to comply with the mandatory Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology deadline, which passed in December. Nineteen scattered dyeing units are reported to be still in the process of implementing ZLD, raising concerns about the Punjab Pollution Control Board's (PPCB) enforcement capabilities.
The PPCB had previously mandated that all such units either install ZLD systems or cease operations within the city. This directive followed findings that untreated industrial wastewater was being discharged into sewer systems, overwhelming sewage treatment plants and contributing to the pollution of the Buddha Nullah.
