dalvinder45
SPNer
- Jul 22, 2023
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The Polluted Buddha Nullah: The Greatest Danger to Life beyond Ludhiana
Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal
Professor Emeritus Desh Bhagat UniversityDr Dalvinder Singh Grewal
A seasonal water stream in Punjab, India's Malwa region is called Buddha Nala, sometimes spelled Buddha Nullah. "Buddha Nala" means "Old rivulet or watercourse" in translation. Beginning at Behlolpur, a village in Machhiwara Tehsil in Punjab State's Ludhiana District, which is 11 kilometers from Machhiwara and 49 kilometers east of the district capital in Ludhiana.
It eventually empties into the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus River close to Walipur hamlet, after passing through the Ludhiana district.[1] Before it enters Ludhiana, the villages of Powat, Machhiwara Manewal, Gehlewal, Koom Kalan, Kroad, Dhanansu, Bhukhari, Khasi Kalan, Tajpur, and Bhamiya Khurd are located along Buddha Nullah after Behlolpur. The villages of Barnhada, Talwada, Jainpur, Nurpur Bet, Phagla, Salempur, Burj Lambdan, Gaunspur, and Walipur Kalan-Manewal, where Buddha Nullah merges in the Satluj River, are reached after traveling via Ludhiana. Ludhiana city is the main source of pollution and contamination, with the villages most impacted coming after Ludhiana. Among these are Burj Lambdan, Gaunspur, Phagla, Salempur, Barnhada, Talwada, Jainpur, Nurpur Bet, and Walipur Kalan-Manewal.
In our younger days in 1950s visited our sister at Machhiwara and went to Gurdwara Charan Kamal Sahib. The Buddha Nullah water flowing alongside the Gurdwara. We used to wash our faces drank this water from Sutlej tributary since it was so pure. Machhiwara lies towards the East of Ludhiana. At that time, our village Nurpur Bet was located towards west of Ludhiana, In Noorpur Bet, Buddha Nullah used to flow by our fields. After working in the fields, we would swim in it. This Nullah, after passing through Ludhiana then was free of pollution both upstream or downstream. How Ludhiana's Buddha Nullah, once 'center of social life, became Punjab's most toxic water body, has been a matter of great concern since.
Pollution has been steadily rising since the 1970s, when industry, particularly the dying industry, began to emerge. At the beginning, nobody paid any attention to it or took any action to keep it clean. By the 1980s, a lot of pollutants, including {censored}nic, had entered the water, turning it dark black. Because the water became so toxic, fish and other aquatic life disappeared. As the number of industries grew and pollution levels rose, nearby individuals began to develop illnesses, first, the skin diseases followed by liver, lung and now cancer diseases . The hue and cry of the sick people' prompted the government to consider setting up pollution control board, which sprang into action by imposing nominal fines on industrial emissions.
While at Desh Bhagat University as Dean I thought of this problem of pollution and one my PhD students, Gunavardana from Sri Lanka selected the topic as “A comparative study of pollution in Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana, India and Kalini River in Sri Lanka”, both water sources having industry along their banks. The student found presence of heavy metals such as {censored}nic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, thallium, and lead were discovered by the student in the Nullah. In actuality, the amount of {censored}nic present in Wallipur Kalan was double the upper level that was allowed. Cadmium levels were also far higher than allowed. In addition to a number of health issues, it has been causing biodiversity damage. Even the pH levels were significantly higher, in addition to the heavy metals. The electrical conductivity (EC) was significantly higher than allowed, which is very detrimental to living things. The poor oxygen supply in nullah water was even demonstrated by its failure in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) measurements. The acceptable limits for water were exceeded by multiple times in terms of total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), etc. Because of them, the water was becoming poisonous and life wass becoming impossible, which is why there were no fish in the Nullah. Cancer and other health issues increased due to poisonous waters of Buddha Nullah.
Industry largely responsible
According to Gunavardana’s study,” industry was the main source of pollution. In Ludhiana, there were over 1,100 polluting industries then. The water was black and teeming with pollutants of all kinds. Chemical waste, untreated industrial waste (mostly from electroplating and dyeing plants), untreated sewerage, and the worst muck one could imagine were all visible. Pollution levels were being exacerbated by the release of solid waste, animal waste, and household trash. Buddha Nullah's pollution contributed to groundwater contamination both directly and indirectly. The majority of industrial estates and a small number of residential areas had unsafe groundwater for human consumption. Soil was also been contaminated. In addition to destroying the catchment area's environment and biodiversity, the Nullah's toxic water was also contributing to health issues like cancer”.
Since it becomes an open drain after approaching the densely populated and industrialized city of Ludhiana, it has also grown to be a significant source of pollution in the area, the main Sutlej River, and beyond. Additionally, because a sizable portion of south-western Punjab depends entirely on canal water for irrigation, the areas such as Malout, Zira, Upper Lambi, the areas being fed by Sirhind feeder, the Parts of Rajasthan that are fed by the Rajasthan feeder canal that eked out from Sutlej at Harike, and the water from Buddha Nullah that enters numerous canals after the Harike waterworks near Ferozepur are the most affected by its pollution.[1]
Buddha Nullah is a tributary of the Sutlej River that traverses the industrial city of Ludhiana. This severely polluted stream transports untreated industrial toxic waste and domestic sewage into the Sutlej. The water is so contaminated that a study by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) suggests it may have led to genetic mutations in the local population. As stated in the 2019 Action Plan report for Clean River Sutlej, the river enters Punjab with Class-B water quality but remains at Class-C upstream of the confluence with Buddha Nullah, eventually resulting in Class-E water quality downstream of the junction.
According to the Punjab Pollution Control Board's April 2019 test report on the quality of water in polluted river stretches in Punjab, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of Sutlej was found to be between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/l upstream of the Buddha Nullah confluence, but 100 meters downstream of the confluence, the BOD of Sutlej abruptly spiked to 90 mg/l. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) guidelines and allowable limits, river water is suitable for bathing if the fecal coliform count falls between the 500 desirable range and the 2,500 maximum allowable limit, Most Probable Number is 100 ml. According to data released by the PPCB, the total coliform bacteria count in the Sutlej downstream the confluence is 22,00,000 MPN/100ml, which is 100 times higher than the allowable level and unsuitable for even bathing. Fecal coliform is a sign of bacterial contamination from human and other warm-blooded animals or from sewage disposal.
Along with pesticides, other contaminants can seep into the ground and contaminate groundwater include heavy metals, toxic compounds, and home and industrial sewage. The people of the Malwa region have died as a result of these pollutants' and carcinogens' bioaccumulation and bio-magnification. Among other physical and mental disorders, there has been a consistent rise in the prevalence of Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and premature aging. Children are most impacted by contamination, according to a study conducted by experts at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. According to blood samples taken from residents in Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Jalandhar neighborhoods near the drains, 65% of the cases exhibited some sort of DNA mutations. With 136 cancer cases per 100,000 residents, Muktsar has a higher incidence of the disease than any other district in the Malwa region of India. In contrast, the average incidence rate of cancer in the country is 106 cases per 100,000. (12)
The effects of Buddha Nullah's pollution have extended beyond the borders of the neighboring state of Rajasthan. The world's longest canal, the Indira Gandhi Canal, is supplied by the Sutlej and Beas rivers and rises from the Harike Barrage. Rajasthan experiences a similar health catastrophe to Punjab as a result of the canal carrying the same contaminated Sutlej water. The Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment and Research Institute, one of the 25 Regional Cancer Centers in the nation, is seeing an unexpected increase in the number of cancer patients traveling from different areas of the Malwa region to Bikaner for diagnosis and treatment. The fact that the train that transports approximately 100 cancer patients and their families daily from southern Punjabi stations to the facility each day on average .these patients to the facility in Bikaner, has earned the nick name as "Cancer train".
An environmentalist named Balbir Sigh Seechewal, who had previously cleaned the 164-kilometer-long, heavily polluted Kali Bein rivulet with the help of his followers and without government assistance, was even invited to take up the cause of cleaning up the Nullah after a Ludhiana-based human rights organization filed a case regarding the state of this nullah with the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) in 2006.[2]
According to a study by Punjab Agricultural University, the water is unfit to grow vegetables and other crops has resulted in the accumulation of heavy metals and toxins in the food chain. Another study conducted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), the School of Public Health, and the Department of Community Medicine at PGIMER, Chandigarh, revealed that heptachlor, beta-endosulphan, and chlorpyrifos pesticides present in ground and canal water samples that were used for drinking in amounts were higher than the maximum residue limit. The pesticides were also found in samples of fodder, vegetables, blood, and bovine and human milk, suggesting that they entered the food chain through the use of agricultural runoff and field irrigation with drain water. With increasing poison in water, the area that was once hailed as the birthplace of the Green Revolution is now known as the "Other Bhopal" due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers, and even those who gave the Revolution credit have started to acknowledge that they were mistaken after witnessing wastelands and farmer suicides in this "granary of India."[3]
Due to inadequate solid/liquid waste management and industrial operations, the roadside soil near the Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana too became contaminated. The high levels of metals like Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn suggest that the soil in the area under study was contaminated with heavy metals, which are produced by industrial processes and may directly affect groundwater, terrestrial systems, human health, and thus ecological systems. Precautions must be taken to avoid soil pollution in the region, according to this report. The soil in the investigated area is moderately to severely contaminated with few metals, according to the Igeo, CF, Cdeg, mCdeg, PI, PLI, ERi, and RI indices. While Cu and Ni exhibit moderate to heavy pollution in the examined area, the Igeo values of Cd, Cr, Co, Pb, and Zn show no contamination to moderate contamination. Cu and Ni exhibit extremely high levels of contamination in the research area, according to the contamination factor values. Significant and moderate levels of contamination are indicated by the contamination degree and modified contamination degree results, respectively. The soil samples within the study area were determined to exhibit moderate to substantial contamination based on the Nemerow pollution index (PI) results.
The examined soil samples had a low to moderate risk of heavy metals, according to the ERi and RI values. Mg2+, Cr, Co, Ni, and Zn are connected with pH, according to the Pearson correlation analysis, whereas EC is correlated with sand content, alkalinity, Ca2+, and Mg2+. In the roadside soil samples, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between the clay concentration and the silt and sand contents. Significant correlations between heavy metals were found, indicating that they share a common origin.[10]
Control measures taken in the past to mitigate the menace
Over the past 30 years, the state government and its different agencies have made numerous attempts to reduce pollution, yet the levels of pollution have only gone up. Three decades of effort in vain. In 1996: Sutlej Action Plan was launched and STPs are set up at Jamalpur, Bhattian and Baloke. In 2009, National Environment Engineers Research Institute (NEERI) members arrive to see if zero-discharge technology can be started. In 2010, Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh visits nullah, announces treatment of water. In 2011 Jairam Ramesh inaugurates project, which bears no fruit. NEERI says unless root cause is addressed, water cannot be treated. In 2019: Central Pollution Control Board team collects samples, which fail to meet specifications of National Green Tribunal. MC claims rejuvenation project nearly complete
The defaulters have not been deterred by a lack of political will or the absence of sanctions and penalties against polluters. The state and federal governments have spent a total of Rs 550 crore initially and another Rs 290 crore later ( a Total of 840 crores or so) to clean up the drain over the past 30 years. Ludhiana district administration imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the vicinity of Buddha Nullah and dumping of garbage was stopped immediately by ensuring police patrolling but but in the following months it was scarcely implemented, despite public outcry.[4].
The Central Pollution Control Board was ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the Shobha Singh vs. State of Punjab case to form a Monitoring Committee with the participation of environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, who is renowned for cleaning the heavily polluted Kali Bein rivulet, which is 164 km long, with the assistance of his supporters, after years of inaction and lack of environmental awareness. To begin the cleaning process, a Special Task Force (STF) led by Thakur Uday Singh, the head of the Namdhari sect, was also established in 2018. Following the submission of the Monitoring Committee's interim report, the NGT, in accordance with the Polluter Pays Principle, ordered the State of Punjab to pay Rs 50 crore to the CPCB in order to repair the environmental harm caused by its negligent entities.
The Punjab government set aside Rs. 500 million the next month to clean up the nullah [5], and in August, the municipal corporation conducted a demolition campaign that cleared numerous unlawful encroachments from both sides of the nullah, [6] In an effort to reduce the pollution of Buddha Nullah, former Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh started an In Situ Bio-remediation project in April 2011. Even the bacteria that were introduced into the stream to aid with the biological cleanup process were unable to flourish since the water was so poisonous.
A Rs. 650 crore project to revitalize polluted Nullah was approved by the Punjab government in 2020. The Chief Minister requested that the local administration finish the project within two years.[7] [7] Testing of recently constructed treatment plants started in December 2022.[8] 95% of the work was completed in 2023, and the deadline was set for December 31 of that year after five dates had already passed because of COVID-19 delays. In order to fulfill the deadline, the project was given top attention, and work was moving quickly.[9]
Understanding Water Crisis and the Way forward
The first city in India to achieve zero sewerage discharge is Jamshedpur. By purifying and recycling wastewater in a way that leaves zero discharge at the end of the treatment cycle, a technology known as Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) produces zero sewerage water discharge, thereby preventing wastewater discharge into adjacent water bodies. The technology was successfully implemented, but it hasn't been copied elsewhere. 40 million liters (MLD) of wastewater are treated daily at this Jamshedpur wastewater treatment facility. An estimated 700 MLD of Ludhiana's wastewater, including industrial effluent, is released into the Sutlej River. As long as the government is sensitive to the poor health of the populace and its economy, this is not a difficult accomplishment. Ironically, in a dismissive move, the government released the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) Report, 2018, which asserts that Punjab is the only state with installed capacity to treat all of its wastewater. This report is considerably incoherent with the State Government, PPCB, and NGT reports.
In spite of numerous reports, inspections, and visits by the Jal Shakti Board, the Punjab governor, and cabinet officials, the much-discussed Buddha Nullah revitalization project has not advanced much. Important concerns are still unanswered, including how common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) operate and how to set up an irrigation path for waste discharge. Dairy farms, dyeing facilities, and electroplating companies are still breaking environmental regulations. The governor of Punjab recently paid a visit to the place where Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal set up a temporary setup at Gau Ghat. As a result, the disposal of household garbage now goes straight into the pipes that connect to the STP Jamalpur.
A monthly meeting and report on this matter were also requested by the governor. Similar inquiries and reports on this matter have been made by a number of ministers, the Punjab Development Commission, the chief secretary of Punjab, the cabinet minister of the local bodies department, and members of the Jal Shakti Board. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), drainage department, and municipal corporation officials have not yet taken decisive action against the violators. According to insiders, political pressure is impeding enforcement actions, making Ludhiana's contaminated drain a continuous risk to public health and the environment. Decades have passed since the Buddha Nullah's revival, which is essential to enhancing Ludhiana's ecological well-being. The drain is still extremely dirty even after hundreds of crores of rupees were spent and infrastructure such as sewage treatment plants (STPs) and CETPs were installed.
According to environmentalists, the efforts have not produced anything. The environmental catastrophe is most evident close to Wallipur village, where the comparatively pure Satluj River meets the contaminated waters of Buddha Nullah. Hepatitis and severe skin disorders are among the chronic health problems that farmers and people around the drain report. Wallipur farmer Raghvir Singh bemoaned, "I've witnessed this pollution for forty years. No matter how many governments come and go, nothing changes. Even after spending crores, the Nullah doesn't change. "No medical camps have been organized to help us," said Balkar Singh, another villager. We continue to suffer, and nothing has changed. The topic has frequently come up in political discourse. The establishment of three STPs in Jamalpur, Bhattian, and Balloke was suggested in the Satluj Action Plan of 1996. Even though these facilities were eventually constructed, Ludhiana's sewage load cannot be handled by them.
With great hoopla, the state government led by the Congress started a ₹650-crore Buddha Nullah revitalization project in December 2020 with the goal of turning the drain into a pristine water body known as "Buddha Dariya." Officials assert that 99% of the work is finished after four years, but locals and environmentalists don't notice any progress. Jitendra Jorwal, the deputy commissioner, acknowledged the difficulties and emphasized the necessity of a multifaceted approach. "Another research group A team from IIT Roorkee has been tasked with undertaking a full study in accordance with directives from the Chief Secretary. Sampling will take place every 15 minutes, to find the sources of pollution and make sure tha no leakage spots are overlooked, he stated. [10]
Assessment of Rs 840 Crore Buddha Nullah Rejuvenation Project Nears Completion in Ludhiana
Evaluation of the Rs 840 Crore Buddha Nullah Rejuvenation Project in Ludhiana is stated to be almost complete. The job was awarded at Rs 839.79 crore, which includes Rs 320.79 crore for operation and maintenance costs and Rs 519 crore for capital work, even though the project amount according to the DPR (detailed project report) was Rs 650 crore. Additionally, a provisional amount of Rs 22 crore was set aside. To date, a total of Rs 460.97 crore has been spent, representing 88.82 percent of the Rs 519 crore total capital work cost. Additionally, the executing agency has been paid Rs 21.6 crore, representing 80.63 percent of the Rs 26.79 crore designated for operation and maintenance costs during the construction period. Operation and maintenance costs for another 10 years after completion of construction, besides, Rs 294 crore would be spent on.
Components of the Project
It eventually empties into the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus River close to Walipur hamlet, after passing through the Ludhiana district.[1] Before it enters Ludhiana, the villages of Powat, Machhiwara Manewal, Gehlewal, Koom Kalan, Kroad, Dhanansu, Bhukhari, Khasi Kalan, Tajpur, and Bhamiya Khurd are located along Buddha Nullah after Behlolpur. The villages of Barnhada, Talwada, Jainpur, Nurpur Bet, Phagla, Salempur, Burj Lambdan, Gaunspur, and Walipur Kalan-Manewal, where Buddha Nullah merges in the Satluj River, are reached after traveling via Ludhiana. Ludhiana city is the main source of pollution and contamination, with the villages most impacted coming after Ludhiana. Among these are Burj Lambdan, Gaunspur, Phagla, Salempur, Barnhada, Talwada, Jainpur, Nurpur Bet, and Walipur Kalan-Manewal.
In our younger days in 1950s visited our sister at Machhiwara and went to Gurdwara Charan Kamal Sahib. The Buddha Nullah water flowing alongside the Gurdwara. We used to wash our faces drank this water from Sutlej tributary since it was so pure. Machhiwara lies towards the East of Ludhiana. At that time, our village Nurpur Bet was located towards west of Ludhiana, In Noorpur Bet, Buddha Nullah used to flow by our fields. After working in the fields, we would swim in it. This Nullah, after passing through Ludhiana then was free of pollution both upstream or downstream. How Ludhiana's Buddha Nullah, once 'center of social life, became Punjab's most toxic water body, has been a matter of great concern since.
Pollution has been steadily rising since the 1970s, when industry, particularly the dying industry, began to emerge. At the beginning, nobody paid any attention to it or took any action to keep it clean. By the 1980s, a lot of pollutants, including {censored}nic, had entered the water, turning it dark black. Because the water became so toxic, fish and other aquatic life disappeared. As the number of industries grew and pollution levels rose, nearby individuals began to develop illnesses, first, the skin diseases followed by liver, lung and now cancer diseases . The hue and cry of the sick people' prompted the government to consider setting up pollution control board, which sprang into action by imposing nominal fines on industrial emissions.
While at Desh Bhagat University as Dean I thought of this problem of pollution and one my PhD students, Gunavardana from Sri Lanka selected the topic as “A comparative study of pollution in Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana, India and Kalini River in Sri Lanka”, both water sources having industry along their banks. The student found presence of heavy metals such as {censored}nic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, thallium, and lead were discovered by the student in the Nullah. In actuality, the amount of {censored}nic present in Wallipur Kalan was double the upper level that was allowed. Cadmium levels were also far higher than allowed. In addition to a number of health issues, it has been causing biodiversity damage. Even the pH levels were significantly higher, in addition to the heavy metals. The electrical conductivity (EC) was significantly higher than allowed, which is very detrimental to living things. The poor oxygen supply in nullah water was even demonstrated by its failure in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) measurements. The acceptable limits for water were exceeded by multiple times in terms of total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), etc. Because of them, the water was becoming poisonous and life wass becoming impossible, which is why there were no fish in the Nullah. Cancer and other health issues increased due to poisonous waters of Buddha Nullah.
Industry largely responsible
According to Gunavardana’s study,” industry was the main source of pollution. In Ludhiana, there were over 1,100 polluting industries then. The water was black and teeming with pollutants of all kinds. Chemical waste, untreated industrial waste (mostly from electroplating and dyeing plants), untreated sewerage, and the worst muck one could imagine were all visible. Pollution levels were being exacerbated by the release of solid waste, animal waste, and household trash. Buddha Nullah's pollution contributed to groundwater contamination both directly and indirectly. The majority of industrial estates and a small number of residential areas had unsafe groundwater for human consumption. Soil was also been contaminated. In addition to destroying the catchment area's environment and biodiversity, the Nullah's toxic water was also contributing to health issues like cancer”.
Since it becomes an open drain after approaching the densely populated and industrialized city of Ludhiana, it has also grown to be a significant source of pollution in the area, the main Sutlej River, and beyond. Additionally, because a sizable portion of south-western Punjab depends entirely on canal water for irrigation, the areas such as Malout, Zira, Upper Lambi, the areas being fed by Sirhind feeder, the Parts of Rajasthan that are fed by the Rajasthan feeder canal that eked out from Sutlej at Harike, and the water from Buddha Nullah that enters numerous canals after the Harike waterworks near Ferozepur are the most affected by its pollution.[1]
Buddha Nullah is a tributary of the Sutlej River that traverses the industrial city of Ludhiana. This severely polluted stream transports untreated industrial toxic waste and domestic sewage into the Sutlej. The water is so contaminated that a study by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) suggests it may have led to genetic mutations in the local population. As stated in the 2019 Action Plan report for Clean River Sutlej, the river enters Punjab with Class-B water quality but remains at Class-C upstream of the confluence with Buddha Nullah, eventually resulting in Class-E water quality downstream of the junction.
According to the Punjab Pollution Control Board's April 2019 test report on the quality of water in polluted river stretches in Punjab, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of Sutlej was found to be between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/l upstream of the Buddha Nullah confluence, but 100 meters downstream of the confluence, the BOD of Sutlej abruptly spiked to 90 mg/l. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) guidelines and allowable limits, river water is suitable for bathing if the fecal coliform count falls between the 500 desirable range and the 2,500 maximum allowable limit, Most Probable Number is 100 ml. According to data released by the PPCB, the total coliform bacteria count in the Sutlej downstream the confluence is 22,00,000 MPN/100ml, which is 100 times higher than the allowable level and unsuitable for even bathing. Fecal coliform is a sign of bacterial contamination from human and other warm-blooded animals or from sewage disposal.
Along with pesticides, other contaminants can seep into the ground and contaminate groundwater include heavy metals, toxic compounds, and home and industrial sewage. The people of the Malwa region have died as a result of these pollutants' and carcinogens' bioaccumulation and bio-magnification. Among other physical and mental disorders, there has been a consistent rise in the prevalence of Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and premature aging. Children are most impacted by contamination, according to a study conducted by experts at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. According to blood samples taken from residents in Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Jalandhar neighborhoods near the drains, 65% of the cases exhibited some sort of DNA mutations. With 136 cancer cases per 100,000 residents, Muktsar has a higher incidence of the disease than any other district in the Malwa region of India. In contrast, the average incidence rate of cancer in the country is 106 cases per 100,000. (12)
The effects of Buddha Nullah's pollution have extended beyond the borders of the neighboring state of Rajasthan. The world's longest canal, the Indira Gandhi Canal, is supplied by the Sutlej and Beas rivers and rises from the Harike Barrage. Rajasthan experiences a similar health catastrophe to Punjab as a result of the canal carrying the same contaminated Sutlej water. The Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment and Research Institute, one of the 25 Regional Cancer Centers in the nation, is seeing an unexpected increase in the number of cancer patients traveling from different areas of the Malwa region to Bikaner for diagnosis and treatment. The fact that the train that transports approximately 100 cancer patients and their families daily from southern Punjabi stations to the facility each day on average .these patients to the facility in Bikaner, has earned the nick name as "Cancer train".
An environmentalist named Balbir Sigh Seechewal, who had previously cleaned the 164-kilometer-long, heavily polluted Kali Bein rivulet with the help of his followers and without government assistance, was even invited to take up the cause of cleaning up the Nullah after a Ludhiana-based human rights organization filed a case regarding the state of this nullah with the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) in 2006.[2]
According to a study by Punjab Agricultural University, the water is unfit to grow vegetables and other crops has resulted in the accumulation of heavy metals and toxins in the food chain. Another study conducted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), the School of Public Health, and the Department of Community Medicine at PGIMER, Chandigarh, revealed that heptachlor, beta-endosulphan, and chlorpyrifos pesticides present in ground and canal water samples that were used for drinking in amounts were higher than the maximum residue limit. The pesticides were also found in samples of fodder, vegetables, blood, and bovine and human milk, suggesting that they entered the food chain through the use of agricultural runoff and field irrigation with drain water. With increasing poison in water, the area that was once hailed as the birthplace of the Green Revolution is now known as the "Other Bhopal" due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers, and even those who gave the Revolution credit have started to acknowledge that they were mistaken after witnessing wastelands and farmer suicides in this "granary of India."[3]
Due to inadequate solid/liquid waste management and industrial operations, the roadside soil near the Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana too became contaminated. The high levels of metals like Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn suggest that the soil in the area under study was contaminated with heavy metals, which are produced by industrial processes and may directly affect groundwater, terrestrial systems, human health, and thus ecological systems. Precautions must be taken to avoid soil pollution in the region, according to this report. The soil in the investigated area is moderately to severely contaminated with few metals, according to the Igeo, CF, Cdeg, mCdeg, PI, PLI, ERi, and RI indices. While Cu and Ni exhibit moderate to heavy pollution in the examined area, the Igeo values of Cd, Cr, Co, Pb, and Zn show no contamination to moderate contamination. Cu and Ni exhibit extremely high levels of contamination in the research area, according to the contamination factor values. Significant and moderate levels of contamination are indicated by the contamination degree and modified contamination degree results, respectively. The soil samples within the study area were determined to exhibit moderate to substantial contamination based on the Nemerow pollution index (PI) results.
The examined soil samples had a low to moderate risk of heavy metals, according to the ERi and RI values. Mg2+, Cr, Co, Ni, and Zn are connected with pH, according to the Pearson correlation analysis, whereas EC is correlated with sand content, alkalinity, Ca2+, and Mg2+. In the roadside soil samples, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between the clay concentration and the silt and sand contents. Significant correlations between heavy metals were found, indicating that they share a common origin.[10]
Control measures taken in the past to mitigate the menace
Over the past 30 years, the state government and its different agencies have made numerous attempts to reduce pollution, yet the levels of pollution have only gone up. Three decades of effort in vain. In 1996: Sutlej Action Plan was launched and STPs are set up at Jamalpur, Bhattian and Baloke. In 2009, National Environment Engineers Research Institute (NEERI) members arrive to see if zero-discharge technology can be started. In 2010, Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh visits nullah, announces treatment of water. In 2011 Jairam Ramesh inaugurates project, which bears no fruit. NEERI says unless root cause is addressed, water cannot be treated. In 2019: Central Pollution Control Board team collects samples, which fail to meet specifications of National Green Tribunal. MC claims rejuvenation project nearly complete
The defaulters have not been deterred by a lack of political will or the absence of sanctions and penalties against polluters. The state and federal governments have spent a total of Rs 550 crore initially and another Rs 290 crore later ( a Total of 840 crores or so) to clean up the drain over the past 30 years. Ludhiana district administration imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the vicinity of Buddha Nullah and dumping of garbage was stopped immediately by ensuring police patrolling but but in the following months it was scarcely implemented, despite public outcry.[4].
The Central Pollution Control Board was ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the Shobha Singh vs. State of Punjab case to form a Monitoring Committee with the participation of environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, who is renowned for cleaning the heavily polluted Kali Bein rivulet, which is 164 km long, with the assistance of his supporters, after years of inaction and lack of environmental awareness. To begin the cleaning process, a Special Task Force (STF) led by Thakur Uday Singh, the head of the Namdhari sect, was also established in 2018. Following the submission of the Monitoring Committee's interim report, the NGT, in accordance with the Polluter Pays Principle, ordered the State of Punjab to pay Rs 50 crore to the CPCB in order to repair the environmental harm caused by its negligent entities.
The Punjab government set aside Rs. 500 million the next month to clean up the nullah [5], and in August, the municipal corporation conducted a demolition campaign that cleared numerous unlawful encroachments from both sides of the nullah, [6] In an effort to reduce the pollution of Buddha Nullah, former Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh started an In Situ Bio-remediation project in April 2011. Even the bacteria that were introduced into the stream to aid with the biological cleanup process were unable to flourish since the water was so poisonous.
A Rs. 650 crore project to revitalize polluted Nullah was approved by the Punjab government in 2020. The Chief Minister requested that the local administration finish the project within two years.[7] [7] Testing of recently constructed treatment plants started in December 2022.[8] 95% of the work was completed in 2023, and the deadline was set for December 31 of that year after five dates had already passed because of COVID-19 delays. In order to fulfill the deadline, the project was given top attention, and work was moving quickly.[9]
Understanding Water Crisis and the Way forward
The first city in India to achieve zero sewerage discharge is Jamshedpur. By purifying and recycling wastewater in a way that leaves zero discharge at the end of the treatment cycle, a technology known as Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) produces zero sewerage water discharge, thereby preventing wastewater discharge into adjacent water bodies. The technology was successfully implemented, but it hasn't been copied elsewhere. 40 million liters (MLD) of wastewater are treated daily at this Jamshedpur wastewater treatment facility. An estimated 700 MLD of Ludhiana's wastewater, including industrial effluent, is released into the Sutlej River. As long as the government is sensitive to the poor health of the populace and its economy, this is not a difficult accomplishment. Ironically, in a dismissive move, the government released the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) Report, 2018, which asserts that Punjab is the only state with installed capacity to treat all of its wastewater. This report is considerably incoherent with the State Government, PPCB, and NGT reports.
In spite of numerous reports, inspections, and visits by the Jal Shakti Board, the Punjab governor, and cabinet officials, the much-discussed Buddha Nullah revitalization project has not advanced much. Important concerns are still unanswered, including how common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) operate and how to set up an irrigation path for waste discharge. Dairy farms, dyeing facilities, and electroplating companies are still breaking environmental regulations. The governor of Punjab recently paid a visit to the place where Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal set up a temporary setup at Gau Ghat. As a result, the disposal of household garbage now goes straight into the pipes that connect to the STP Jamalpur.
A monthly meeting and report on this matter were also requested by the governor. Similar inquiries and reports on this matter have been made by a number of ministers, the Punjab Development Commission, the chief secretary of Punjab, the cabinet minister of the local bodies department, and members of the Jal Shakti Board. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), drainage department, and municipal corporation officials have not yet taken decisive action against the violators. According to insiders, political pressure is impeding enforcement actions, making Ludhiana's contaminated drain a continuous risk to public health and the environment. Decades have passed since the Buddha Nullah's revival, which is essential to enhancing Ludhiana's ecological well-being. The drain is still extremely dirty even after hundreds of crores of rupees were spent and infrastructure such as sewage treatment plants (STPs) and CETPs were installed.
According to environmentalists, the efforts have not produced anything. The environmental catastrophe is most evident close to Wallipur village, where the comparatively pure Satluj River meets the contaminated waters of Buddha Nullah. Hepatitis and severe skin disorders are among the chronic health problems that farmers and people around the drain report. Wallipur farmer Raghvir Singh bemoaned, "I've witnessed this pollution for forty years. No matter how many governments come and go, nothing changes. Even after spending crores, the Nullah doesn't change. "No medical camps have been organized to help us," said Balkar Singh, another villager. We continue to suffer, and nothing has changed. The topic has frequently come up in political discourse. The establishment of three STPs in Jamalpur, Bhattian, and Balloke was suggested in the Satluj Action Plan of 1996. Even though these facilities were eventually constructed, Ludhiana's sewage load cannot be handled by them.
With great hoopla, the state government led by the Congress started a ₹650-crore Buddha Nullah revitalization project in December 2020 with the goal of turning the drain into a pristine water body known as "Buddha Dariya." Officials assert that 99% of the work is finished after four years, but locals and environmentalists don't notice any progress. Jitendra Jorwal, the deputy commissioner, acknowledged the difficulties and emphasized the necessity of a multifaceted approach. "Another research group A team from IIT Roorkee has been tasked with undertaking a full study in accordance with directives from the Chief Secretary. Sampling will take place every 15 minutes, to find the sources of pollution and make sure tha no leakage spots are overlooked, he stated. [10]
Assessment of Rs 840 Crore Buddha Nullah Rejuvenation Project Nears Completion in Ludhiana
Evaluation of the Rs 840 Crore Buddha Nullah Rejuvenation Project in Ludhiana is stated to be almost complete. The job was awarded at Rs 839.79 crore, which includes Rs 320.79 crore for operation and maintenance costs and Rs 519 crore for capital work, even though the project amount according to the DPR (detailed project report) was Rs 650 crore. Additionally, a provisional amount of Rs 22 crore was set aside. To date, a total of Rs 460.97 crore has been spent, representing 88.82 percent of the Rs 519 crore total capital work cost. Additionally, the executing agency has been paid Rs 21.6 crore, representing 80.63 percent of the Rs 26.79 crore designated for operation and maintenance costs during the construction period. Operation and maintenance costs for another 10 years after completion of construction, besides, Rs 294 crore would be spent on.
Components of the Project
225 MLD STP and 60 MLD STPs at Jamalpur and Balloke | 1 IPS near Gaughat Gurdwara yet to be started |
Intermediate Pumping station (IPS) on the bank of Buddha Nullah | 2.255 MLD and 3.75 MLD ETPs at Tajpur Road and Haibowal respectively |
12 MLD STP on Tibba Road | Rehabilitation of 111 MLD and 152 MLD STPs at Bhattian and Balloke respectively |
8 MLD STP at Sunder Nagar | |
5 MLD STPat Kundarnpuri | |
13 MLD STP at Upkar Nagar | One time repair and overhauling of 50 MLD and 105 MLD STPs at Bhattian and Balloke respectively |
According to the Municipal Corporation (MC), when the project enters its advanced stage of completion, Buddha "nullah" still remains one of the most contaminated water bodies. Following its December 2020 start, the first-of-its-kind project missed four deadlines to complete the capital work due to teething troubles and the detrimental impact of COVID restrictions in the first few months. Some parts of the project are in the advanced stage of development, while others have been completed. The ongoing effort has been accelerated further to meet the August 31 deadline. The project was negatively impacted by COVID restrictions in the first few months following its introduction in December 2020, and it missed four deadlines to finish the capital work after experiencing teething issues.
On the banks of Buddha Nullah, six intermediate pumping stations (IPSs) are being built as part of the household effluent management project. Two of these have been established and are conducting a trial run: the 8-MLD capacity at Sundar Nagar and the 12-MLD capacity at Tibba. The 5-MLD capacity IPS at Kundanpuri is also 70% finished, the 13-MLD capacity at Upkar Nagar is 68% finished, the LMH IPS is 66% finished, and 15% of the project has advanced toward the installation of a second IPS close to Gaushala. An additional 111-MLD capacity STP and MPS at Bhattian has 92 percent of its work completed, and another 152-MLD capacity STP and MPS at Balloke has 50 percent of its work completed. Two STPs and MPSs, including a 105-MLD capacity at Balloke and another 50-MLD capacity at Bhattian, have already been completed. Existing STPs and pumping stations will also be repaired and renovated as part of the project.
The Punjab Dyeing Association is operating three newly installed CETPs under industrial waste management, with oversight from the Punjab Pollution Control Board. These include a 15 MLD CETP operating at Bahadurke Road to serve the purpose in that area, as well as two CETPs with capacities of 50 and 40 MLD at Jail Road, which serve the purpose in the Tajpur Road and Focal Point regions.
Nevertheless, "Kala Pani da Morcha" an NGO which monitors the progress of the cleanliness of the Buddha Nullah voluntarily and have started a movement to accelerate the cleanliness claims that the government implements cleanup initiatives while permitting industry to release pollutants into the water, ignoring the underlying source of the issue.
In an enquiry on Morcha’s appeal, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) received a response from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on August 13 on the pollution situation in Buddha Nullah. Three Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in the city were discovered to be "not complying with the disposal condition stipulated in the environmental clearance issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change," according to the report. Additionally, CPCB told NGT that on August 12, 2024, it directed PPCB to "take appropriate action including imposing environmental compensation." In a previous report, the PPCB acknowledged that the water from the Buddha nullah was unsuitable for irrigation. “If it is unfit for agriculture, do you think it is fit for drinking?” activists argued.
The protest march organizers said in a united statement that they intended to plug the Buddha Nullah on September 15, but the date was later moved to October 1, 2024. Following this directive, on September 25, PPCB issued an order to immediately stop the release of treated wastewater into Buddha Nullah from the three CETPs. Reports, however, indicate that no such action has taken place actually.
The Supreme Court's ruling in Indian Council for Enviro-Legal v. Union of India established the accepted rule of Customary International Law, which should be strictly enforced by the government if it is serious about eliminating the threat of water contamination. This rule has also been incorporated into municipal law. The Polluter Pays Principle merely holds those who pollute the environment "absolute liability." The liability not only extends to compensate for the damage caused to the victims of pollution but also the cost of restoring environmental degradation. The principle shifts the onus to compensate the victim and cost of remediation from the state to the polluter. When all other options have been exhausted and there is no chance of correction, punitive punishments are the only approach to increase awareness and sensitivity among individuals who pollute the environment. Rather than blocking the stream, campaigners staged a sit-in on October 1 near Ludhiana's Ferozepur Road and issued a deadline to the government: December 3, 2024.
According to an activis,t Baljeet Kaur, the samples have been occasionally taken from the Buddha Nullah, but hunda kuchh nahin (nothing happens). She is fed up with government surveys and assurances, "either this pollution should be stopped or we should be provided with clean water so that our next generation can live."
Additionally, the construction of two ETPs to handle liquid waste from the dairy complex has accelerated due to the work on dairy waste management. The 3.75-MLD capacity ETP at Haibowal has 26 percent of its work finished, and another 2.25-MLD capacity plant at Tajpur Road has 25 percent of its work finished. Both plants are expected to be finished by August 31.
The pipeline has already been laid along the Buddha Nullah banks, including 650 meters from Kundanpuri to Upkar Nagar, 4,944 meters on the east side, and 6,475 meters on the west side.
Author of this paper, under whose supervision a study was carried out for comparing the water pollution in Buddha Nullah and Kelani Rivere in Sri Lanka went to Sri Lanka for the comparison of the pollution levels of Buddha Nullah in India and Kelani River in Sri Lanka found the industry as the major source of pollution both in Buddha Nullah and the Kelani river of Sri Lanka. He was astonished to see the previous pictures of Kelani River and compared with present pictures of Buddha Nullah. Both had black water and contamination beyond accepted levels. However later the Government became very serious about the pollution and after detailed assessment of the polluting industry they asked these factories either to shut or to move somewhere else. This action was sincere and dedicated and with these strict steps the pollution was curbed and the industry that was polluting water in Colombo’s Kelani River was closed.
Even treated waste water is not released into the river. The author had not only had a bath in the river but also drank the water and it was so pure that it was used by the population of cities like Colombo. He found no such action in Ludhiana and the industry goes on polluting the river as usual though there are manipulated press reports showing the water to be clean for drinking and bath.
This author visited the Buddha Nullah last week (Mid April 2025) and found that the water is as contaminated and black as it was few years before and the false claims in press appear to be a political gimmick. The Rs 840 crore project does not seem to have produced desired results and there is much more needs to be done including closure or shifting of polluting industry as was done by Sri Lankan Government. Health must be given priority over wealth.
Actions needed to stop pollution in Buddha Nullah
Buddha Nullah, which is primarily contaminated by sewage, industrial waste, animal waste, and agricultural runoff, has to be cleaned up using a multifaceted strategy. It still presents a serious risk to the environment. Despite having already spent Rs 844 crore on rejuvenation efforts, the government's new plan to install 22 lift irrigation projects at various locations along the most polluted tributary of the Sutlej at an estimated cost of Rs 244.45 crore may not adequately address the underlying cause of the pollution if the project is not carried out sincerely. Buddha Nullah has to be cleaned and preserved using a thorough and multidimensional approach.
Plug polluting channels
Ludhiana is facing number of issues, including encroachments, traffic, pollution, and contaminated food. But during the past few years, pollution in Buddha Nullah has become a significant problem. Buddha Nullah was formerly a clean water stream, but it is now a filthy drain instead. Because there is no clean air to breathe, living in the area has become challenging. It is necessary to punish polluters and shut down their factories. One organization or large industrialist should be assigned to clean a portion of the stream. It is necessary to build fences around Buddha Nullah on both sides. People should promise not to put trash in it. Those who are releasing untreated water and other effluents must be punished and their factories should be locked down. Some stretch of the stream should be allocated to one organisation or big industrialist to get it cleaned. Fences must be erected on both sides of Buddha Nullah. Citizens should pledge not to throw waste into it.
To start, stringent laws must be put in place to limit animal and industrial waste into the Nullah. To close these, priority should be given to finding a new location for the polluting industry. As an alternative, effective sewage treatment facilities must be established, and waste must be disposed of appropriately. Buddha Nullah might be completely revitalized and Punjab's water resources preserved with long-term observation, consistent funding, and successful river restoration initiatives paired with new irrigation projects. Pollution can also be decreased through grassroots community awareness initiatives.
Control pollution in Buddah Nullah
The state government intends to invest a significant sum of money in installing irrigation lifts in Budha Nullah. But first, it must deal with the issue of pollution. If contaminated water is used to irrigate fields near the stream, the resulting crops shall be harmful to humans. A situation like that should never be permitted. Before water is used for irrigation, pollutant levels must be reduced. It is unwise to spend a lot of money on lift irrigation pumps without first preparing the water for irrigation. Water should first be examined for contaminants. It is necessary to use several methods to prepare the water for irrigation.
Monitor pollution level regularly
Unless the project is properly executed and public involvement is guaranteed, spending crores won't help. Stopping the flow of untreated household and industrial garbage into Buddha Nullah should be the first step toward cleaning it. Industries and families that directly dump waste must be strictly regulated. Along with making sure that sewage treatment plants are operating properly, pollution levels must be regularly monitored. Transparency in project progress and suitable expenditure should also be guaranteed by the government. Plantation drives along the Nullah can enhance the ecology and lessen soil erosion. Residents need to be made aware of the negative effects of pollution and motivated to maintain cleanliness in the community. Colleges and schools must be involved in these cleanliness campaigns. To genuinely restore Buddha Nullah and prevent the Sutlej from becoming contaminated, a combination of stringent regulations, truthful application, and community cooperation is required. It's time to take action, not just plan.
Install effective sewage treatment plants
Concrete walls should be built on both sides of Buddah Nullah to stop illegal sewerage connections pouring waste into the water body. On lines of Ganga and Yamuna rivers, equipment like skimmers, weed harvester and dredge utility crafts should be used to remove excess vegetation from Buddha Nullah. Right now, authorities are focusing only on cleaning the water. After every 3-5 km, waste treatment plants should be installed to check pollution. The Punjab government should set up a separate department for cleaning drains and Nullahs in the state. There is need to hire professional team, which should provide services 24X7. They will also test water quality on a daily basis as the Ludhiana MC has not been able to handle or maintain the nullah on its own.
Hold polluters accountable
To clean and preserve Buddha Nullah, a strict and consistently implemented regulatory framework for industrial and home waste discharge is required. This includes routine monitoring of wastewater treatment plants and holding polluters accountable through hefty penalties for noncompliance. Secondly, a comprehensive and long-term rejuvenation plan should be developed, with a focus on the nullah’s ecological restoration. This should include de-silting of riverbed, implementing bioremediation techniques, planting buffer zones and reusing treated water for irrigation or other non-potable purposes. These two techniques, which combine strict control and ecological restoration, will provide the most viable path to a cleaner Buddha Nullah.
The rampant discharge of domestic and industrial waste into the Buddha Darya has earned it the infamous title of Buddha Nullah. The much-hyped Rs 840 crore rejuvenation project of the Ludhiana MC launched in 2021 failed to produce the desired results and the polluted water is now entering various villages, making life of residents miserable. Buddha Nullah is the most toxic water body in the state, threatening the lives of over 2 crore people in Punjab and Rajasthan. The residents believe there is no concrete solution to the problem. However, a ray of hope has arisen as environmentalist and Rajya Sabha member BS Seechewal has embarked on ‘kar seva’ to restore the former glory of the Sutlej tributary as he did for 160-km Kali Bein. As responsible citizens, we should not dump solid waste into the nullah and limit the use of detergent. There is also a need to check discharge from dairies being dumped into the nullah. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) should take a strict action against industrial units that pour untreated effluents into the water body. Encroachments should be removed on either side of the stream. Slums that discharge untreated sewage into the nullah should be relocated.
Launch public awareness drives
Industries that release untreated garbage into Buddha Nullah should face severe sanctions. Make improvements to guarantee the effective operation of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) located along the nullah. Examine and audit industrial waste treatment procedures on a regular basis. It is necessary to start ongoing public awareness programs to inform people about the negative consequences of pollution. Engage resident welfare associations, NGOs, schools, and universities in cleanup and observation activities. Cleanup campaigns led by the community and encouraging public involvement can help make things better. Put in mesh nets and efficient drainage filters to prevent solid debris and plastic from getting into the water. To handle trash locally, decentralized waste management systems ought to be established.
To lessen runoff pollution, the government should support sustainable urban drainage systems and rainwater collection. In addition to making sure that trees are planted along the banks, green buffer zones must be created since they will serve as natural filters. Release water quality data every week to keep the public informed and under pressure. The government ought to implement bio-remediation methods to purify contaminated water organically. Promote the use of zero-liquid discharge systems by industries. To finance long-term solutions, corporations could look to contribute under CSR. Government initiatives should have strict deadlines and periodic status reports. For coordinated activities, create a task group with participation from all parties.
Rope in social bodies for clean-up
Many efforts have been made in recent years to purify Buddha Nullah. Even the World Bank has given grants to clean it up. The Center's teams have been to the city and have made every effort to clean up the contaminated stream, but to no avail. If dying factories stop dumping water into Buddha Nullah, the issue can be resolved. On both sides of the stream, a fence needs to be built. Anyone who throws trash into it should be subject to a hefty fine. Periodically, an official should assess the situation. All citizens must volunteer to help the local government. Buddha Nullah must have vegetation growing on both sides.
On the banks of Buddha Nullah, six intermediate pumping stations (IPSs) are being built as part of the household effluent management project. Two of these have been established and are conducting a trial run: the 8-MLD capacity at Sundar Nagar and the 12-MLD capacity at Tibba. The 5-MLD capacity IPS at Kundanpuri is also 70% finished, the 13-MLD capacity at Upkar Nagar is 68% finished, the LMH IPS is 66% finished, and 15% of the project has advanced toward the installation of a second IPS close to Gaushala. An additional 111-MLD capacity STP and MPS at Bhattian has 92 percent of its work completed, and another 152-MLD capacity STP and MPS at Balloke has 50 percent of its work completed. Two STPs and MPSs, including a 105-MLD capacity at Balloke and another 50-MLD capacity at Bhattian, have already been completed. Existing STPs and pumping stations will also be repaired and renovated as part of the project.
The Punjab Dyeing Association is operating three newly installed CETPs under industrial waste management, with oversight from the Punjab Pollution Control Board. These include a 15 MLD CETP operating at Bahadurke Road to serve the purpose in that area, as well as two CETPs with capacities of 50 and 40 MLD at Jail Road, which serve the purpose in the Tajpur Road and Focal Point regions.
Nevertheless, "Kala Pani da Morcha" an NGO which monitors the progress of the cleanliness of the Buddha Nullah voluntarily and have started a movement to accelerate the cleanliness claims that the government implements cleanup initiatives while permitting industry to release pollutants into the water, ignoring the underlying source of the issue.
In an enquiry on Morcha’s appeal, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) received a response from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on August 13 on the pollution situation in Buddha Nullah. Three Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in the city were discovered to be "not complying with the disposal condition stipulated in the environmental clearance issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change," according to the report. Additionally, CPCB told NGT that on August 12, 2024, it directed PPCB to "take appropriate action including imposing environmental compensation." In a previous report, the PPCB acknowledged that the water from the Buddha nullah was unsuitable for irrigation. “If it is unfit for agriculture, do you think it is fit for drinking?” activists argued.
The protest march organizers said in a united statement that they intended to plug the Buddha Nullah on September 15, but the date was later moved to October 1, 2024. Following this directive, on September 25, PPCB issued an order to immediately stop the release of treated wastewater into Buddha Nullah from the three CETPs. Reports, however, indicate that no such action has taken place actually.
The Supreme Court's ruling in Indian Council for Enviro-Legal v. Union of India established the accepted rule of Customary International Law, which should be strictly enforced by the government if it is serious about eliminating the threat of water contamination. This rule has also been incorporated into municipal law. The Polluter Pays Principle merely holds those who pollute the environment "absolute liability." The liability not only extends to compensate for the damage caused to the victims of pollution but also the cost of restoring environmental degradation. The principle shifts the onus to compensate the victim and cost of remediation from the state to the polluter. When all other options have been exhausted and there is no chance of correction, punitive punishments are the only approach to increase awareness and sensitivity among individuals who pollute the environment. Rather than blocking the stream, campaigners staged a sit-in on October 1 near Ludhiana's Ferozepur Road and issued a deadline to the government: December 3, 2024.
According to an activis,t Baljeet Kaur, the samples have been occasionally taken from the Buddha Nullah, but hunda kuchh nahin (nothing happens). She is fed up with government surveys and assurances, "either this pollution should be stopped or we should be provided with clean water so that our next generation can live."
Additionally, the construction of two ETPs to handle liquid waste from the dairy complex has accelerated due to the work on dairy waste management. The 3.75-MLD capacity ETP at Haibowal has 26 percent of its work finished, and another 2.25-MLD capacity plant at Tajpur Road has 25 percent of its work finished. Both plants are expected to be finished by August 31.
The pipeline has already been laid along the Buddha Nullah banks, including 650 meters from Kundanpuri to Upkar Nagar, 4,944 meters on the east side, and 6,475 meters on the west side.
Author of this paper, under whose supervision a study was carried out for comparing the water pollution in Buddha Nullah and Kelani Rivere in Sri Lanka went to Sri Lanka for the comparison of the pollution levels of Buddha Nullah in India and Kelani River in Sri Lanka found the industry as the major source of pollution both in Buddha Nullah and the Kelani river of Sri Lanka. He was astonished to see the previous pictures of Kelani River and compared with present pictures of Buddha Nullah. Both had black water and contamination beyond accepted levels. However later the Government became very serious about the pollution and after detailed assessment of the polluting industry they asked these factories either to shut or to move somewhere else. This action was sincere and dedicated and with these strict steps the pollution was curbed and the industry that was polluting water in Colombo’s Kelani River was closed.
Even treated waste water is not released into the river. The author had not only had a bath in the river but also drank the water and it was so pure that it was used by the population of cities like Colombo. He found no such action in Ludhiana and the industry goes on polluting the river as usual though there are manipulated press reports showing the water to be clean for drinking and bath.
This author visited the Buddha Nullah last week (Mid April 2025) and found that the water is as contaminated and black as it was few years before and the false claims in press appear to be a political gimmick. The Rs 840 crore project does not seem to have produced desired results and there is much more needs to be done including closure or shifting of polluting industry as was done by Sri Lankan Government. Health must be given priority over wealth.
Actions needed to stop pollution in Buddha Nullah
Buddha Nullah, which is primarily contaminated by sewage, industrial waste, animal waste, and agricultural runoff, has to be cleaned up using a multifaceted strategy. It still presents a serious risk to the environment. Despite having already spent Rs 844 crore on rejuvenation efforts, the government's new plan to install 22 lift irrigation projects at various locations along the most polluted tributary of the Sutlej at an estimated cost of Rs 244.45 crore may not adequately address the underlying cause of the pollution if the project is not carried out sincerely. Buddha Nullah has to be cleaned and preserved using a thorough and multidimensional approach.
Plug polluting channels
Ludhiana is facing number of issues, including encroachments, traffic, pollution, and contaminated food. But during the past few years, pollution in Buddha Nullah has become a significant problem. Buddha Nullah was formerly a clean water stream, but it is now a filthy drain instead. Because there is no clean air to breathe, living in the area has become challenging. It is necessary to punish polluters and shut down their factories. One organization or large industrialist should be assigned to clean a portion of the stream. It is necessary to build fences around Buddha Nullah on both sides. People should promise not to put trash in it. Those who are releasing untreated water and other effluents must be punished and their factories should be locked down. Some stretch of the stream should be allocated to one organisation or big industrialist to get it cleaned. Fences must be erected on both sides of Buddha Nullah. Citizens should pledge not to throw waste into it.
To start, stringent laws must be put in place to limit animal and industrial waste into the Nullah. To close these, priority should be given to finding a new location for the polluting industry. As an alternative, effective sewage treatment facilities must be established, and waste must be disposed of appropriately. Buddha Nullah might be completely revitalized and Punjab's water resources preserved with long-term observation, consistent funding, and successful river restoration initiatives paired with new irrigation projects. Pollution can also be decreased through grassroots community awareness initiatives.
Control pollution in Buddah Nullah
The state government intends to invest a significant sum of money in installing irrigation lifts in Budha Nullah. But first, it must deal with the issue of pollution. If contaminated water is used to irrigate fields near the stream, the resulting crops shall be harmful to humans. A situation like that should never be permitted. Before water is used for irrigation, pollutant levels must be reduced. It is unwise to spend a lot of money on lift irrigation pumps without first preparing the water for irrigation. Water should first be examined for contaminants. It is necessary to use several methods to prepare the water for irrigation.
Monitor pollution level regularly
Unless the project is properly executed and public involvement is guaranteed, spending crores won't help. Stopping the flow of untreated household and industrial garbage into Buddha Nullah should be the first step toward cleaning it. Industries and families that directly dump waste must be strictly regulated. Along with making sure that sewage treatment plants are operating properly, pollution levels must be regularly monitored. Transparency in project progress and suitable expenditure should also be guaranteed by the government. Plantation drives along the Nullah can enhance the ecology and lessen soil erosion. Residents need to be made aware of the negative effects of pollution and motivated to maintain cleanliness in the community. Colleges and schools must be involved in these cleanliness campaigns. To genuinely restore Buddha Nullah and prevent the Sutlej from becoming contaminated, a combination of stringent regulations, truthful application, and community cooperation is required. It's time to take action, not just plan.
Install effective sewage treatment plants
Concrete walls should be built on both sides of Buddah Nullah to stop illegal sewerage connections pouring waste into the water body. On lines of Ganga and Yamuna rivers, equipment like skimmers, weed harvester and dredge utility crafts should be used to remove excess vegetation from Buddha Nullah. Right now, authorities are focusing only on cleaning the water. After every 3-5 km, waste treatment plants should be installed to check pollution. The Punjab government should set up a separate department for cleaning drains and Nullahs in the state. There is need to hire professional team, which should provide services 24X7. They will also test water quality on a daily basis as the Ludhiana MC has not been able to handle or maintain the nullah on its own.
Hold polluters accountable
To clean and preserve Buddha Nullah, a strict and consistently implemented regulatory framework for industrial and home waste discharge is required. This includes routine monitoring of wastewater treatment plants and holding polluters accountable through hefty penalties for noncompliance. Secondly, a comprehensive and long-term rejuvenation plan should be developed, with a focus on the nullah’s ecological restoration. This should include de-silting of riverbed, implementing bioremediation techniques, planting buffer zones and reusing treated water for irrigation or other non-potable purposes. These two techniques, which combine strict control and ecological restoration, will provide the most viable path to a cleaner Buddha Nullah.
The rampant discharge of domestic and industrial waste into the Buddha Darya has earned it the infamous title of Buddha Nullah. The much-hyped Rs 840 crore rejuvenation project of the Ludhiana MC launched in 2021 failed to produce the desired results and the polluted water is now entering various villages, making life of residents miserable. Buddha Nullah is the most toxic water body in the state, threatening the lives of over 2 crore people in Punjab and Rajasthan. The residents believe there is no concrete solution to the problem. However, a ray of hope has arisen as environmentalist and Rajya Sabha member BS Seechewal has embarked on ‘kar seva’ to restore the former glory of the Sutlej tributary as he did for 160-km Kali Bein. As responsible citizens, we should not dump solid waste into the nullah and limit the use of detergent. There is also a need to check discharge from dairies being dumped into the nullah. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) should take a strict action against industrial units that pour untreated effluents into the water body. Encroachments should be removed on either side of the stream. Slums that discharge untreated sewage into the nullah should be relocated.
Launch public awareness drives
Industries that release untreated garbage into Buddha Nullah should face severe sanctions. Make improvements to guarantee the effective operation of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) located along the nullah. Examine and audit industrial waste treatment procedures on a regular basis. It is necessary to start ongoing public awareness programs to inform people about the negative consequences of pollution. Engage resident welfare associations, NGOs, schools, and universities in cleanup and observation activities. Cleanup campaigns led by the community and encouraging public involvement can help make things better. Put in mesh nets and efficient drainage filters to prevent solid debris and plastic from getting into the water. To handle trash locally, decentralized waste management systems ought to be established.
To lessen runoff pollution, the government should support sustainable urban drainage systems and rainwater collection. In addition to making sure that trees are planted along the banks, green buffer zones must be created since they will serve as natural filters. Release water quality data every week to keep the public informed and under pressure. The government ought to implement bio-remediation methods to purify contaminated water organically. Promote the use of zero-liquid discharge systems by industries. To finance long-term solutions, corporations could look to contribute under CSR. Government initiatives should have strict deadlines and periodic status reports. For coordinated activities, create a task group with participation from all parties.
Rope in social bodies for clean-up
Many efforts have been made in recent years to purify Buddha Nullah. Even the World Bank has given grants to clean it up. The Center's teams have been to the city and have made every effort to clean up the contaminated stream, but to no avail. If dying factories stop dumping water into Buddha Nullah, the issue can be resolved. On both sides of the stream, a fence needs to be built. Anyone who throws trash into it should be subject to a hefty fine. Periodically, an official should assess the situation. All citizens must volunteer to help the local government. Buddha Nullah must have vegetation growing on both sides.
References
1."Buddha Nullah the toxic vein of Malwa". Indian Express. 21 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
2. "Baba Seechewal urged to clean Buddha Nullah". Indian Express. 15 November 2006.
3. "Laws To Tackle Other 'Bhopals'". Mint. 10 June 2010.
4. Singh, Manvinder (11 December 2009). "Pollution in Buddha Nullah on the rise". The Times of India.
5. "Rs 50 cr for Buddha Nullah cleaning". The Tribune. 8 July 2009.
6. Singh, Manvinder (6 August 2009). "Encroachments on banks of Buddha Nullah cleared". The Times of India.
7. "Ludhiana: Rs 650 crore plan for Buddha Nullah clean-up". The Times of India. 7 January 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
8. "Project to rejuvenate Buddha Nullah: Testing begins at newly constructed STP in Ludhiana". The Indian Express. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
9. "95% rejuvenation done, Buddha Nullah close to turn into river". The Tribune India. 27 December 2023.
10. Jaskaran Kaur and othersl Assessment of the Heavy Metal Contamination of Roadside Soils Alongside Buddha Nullah, Ludhiana, (Punjab) India Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1596; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031596
11. Sukhpreet Singh Jan 29, 2025, 4 years on, ₹650-cr Buddha Nullah revamp project yet to find its feet Apr 16, 2025, https://www.hindustantimes.com/citi...ect-yet-to-find-its-feet-101738087074301.html
12.Courtesy http://pbhealth.gov.in/cancerawareness/Outcome.pdf: Punjab State Report on Cancer Awareness and Symptom Based Early Detection, Sate Wide Door to Door Campaign
