Home / Environment / Ludhiana Dyeing Units Outstrip Pollution Network
Ludhiana Dyeing Units Outstrip Pollution Network
28 Oct
Summary
- 26 dyeing units in Ludhiana remain unconnected to a common effluent treatment plant.
- Infeasibility and land scarcity hinder connection to existing or new treatment facilities.
- Buddha Nullah's pollution persists due to unresolved industrial wastewater discharge issues.
The Punjab government has admitted that approximately 26 dyeing units in Ludhiana's Industrial Area-A are not integrated into the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) network. This situation, highlighted before the National Green Tribunal on October 27, 2026, underscores the persistent challenges in managing industrial wastewater discharged into Buddha Nullah. The state cited infeasibility of connecting these units to existing facilities and a failure to acquire land for a new plant as reasons for their exclusion.
Ludhiana currently operates three CETPs with a combined capacity of 105 million litres per day, serving 211 member units. However, technical and logistical constraints prevent the connection of the 26 units in Industrial Area-A. A 2019 roadmap mandated that unconnected units either relocate or achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD). The current submission does not clarify if these 26 units have implemented compliant treatment systems, leaving their individual treatment arrangements uncertain.
The Buddha Nullah, a seasonal stream flowing through Ludhiana into the Sutlej, has long been a significant pollution concern. The 2019 roadmap aimed for coordinated action to expand CETP connectivity and segregate industrial waste. This admission arises from an appeal filed by Azeez Fabrics Private Limited, a unit in Industrial Area-A, challenging a Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) communication. The company seeks connection to a CETP and permission to continue operations without ZLD.
