Ludhiana's Nullah Revival: A Citizen-Led Water Solution

Environmental activists and Ludhiana residents have jointly developed an integrated roadmap to revive the polluted Buddha Nullah, aiming to transform it into the flowing Buddha Darya while combating the city's groundwater crisis. The plan centers on the scientific recycling and reuse of wastewater.

The proposed framework involves the phased utilization of approximately 555 million litres per day of treated water. Initial phases focus on irrigating around 1,900 acres of farmland using treated water from local sewage treatment plants. Subsequent phases envision dedicated pipelines to ensure a continuous flow downstream.

While the plan offers practical solutions for environmental issues, concerns persist regarding the reuse of treated industrial wastewater, particularly near the Mattewara forest. Activists are calling for strict enforcement of zero liquid discharge norms and better management of waste from various sources to protect biodiversity and groundwater.