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₹19.6 Crore Dues Cripple Buddha Nullah Cleanup
14 Mar
Summary
- Effluent treatment plant operations are stalled due to unpaid maintenance bills.
- Punjab water board seeks payment for plant operations from the municipal corporation.
- Untreated waste discharge threatens the Buddha Nullah rejuvenation project.
Officials from the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) highlighted the critical ₹19.60 crore outstanding for the maintenance of the dairy complex's effluent treatment plant (ETP). This payment delay by the municipal corporation has crippled the plant's operation and maintenance, as PWSSB is responsible for clearing associated bills. The ETP, essential for treating dairy waste before discharge, ceased functioning effectively recently after its budget allocation was exhausted.
Concerns were voiced during a Buddha Nullah Monitoring Committee meeting that untreated effluent might re-enter the polluted stream, undermining the multi-crore rejuvenation project. Several monthly bills, some dating back to July, remain unpaid, accumulating to the substantial ₹19.60 crore total. MC officials stated the payment awaits clearance from the Finance and Contracts Committee. Meanwhile, efforts to curb illegal dumping of cow dung and dairy waste into the Buddha Nullah are being intensified, with over 30 dairy owners previously fined for power theft.
