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Buddha Dariya Cleanup: Contractors' Negligence Threatens Progress
20 Jan
Summary
- Untreated wastewater discharged directly into Buddha Dariya river.
- Private firm failed to explain bypass of river filtration protocols.
- Pollution could undo a year of significant environmental restoration work.
Environmental restoration efforts for the Buddha Dariya river in Ludhiana are critically endangered by recent negligence from private contractors. During a site inspection, Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal observed untreated wastewater and animal urine being discharged directly into the river, bypassing established filtration systems.
This failure occurred despite a year of substantial progress, including the diversion of 165 million litres a day of raw sewage and the successful blocking of waste from 79 rural dairies. A temporary filtration system utilizing specialized ponds to settle solids was found to be tampered with, allowing liquid pollutants to enter the waterway. The private firm responsible could not provide a satisfactory explanation for these breaches.
Environmentalists warn that such deliberate undermining could reverse months of restoration work, which had led to visible improvements in water clarity and quality. They emphasize that the Buddha Dariya is a collective responsibility and urge residents to speak out against officials and companies responsible for ongoing pollution.
