Latest news with #BuddhaDariyaRejuvenationProject
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Cow dung disposal creates challenges for Ludhiana's sewage treatment plants.
Ludhiana: Lack of proper handling of cow dung is creating problems for the functioning of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) and effluent treatment plants (ETPs) constructed under the Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation Project. A random visit to the ETPs or STPs, especially Balloke, reveals heaps of cow dung lying in the complex, creating a major issue in the cleaning of the wastewater. One biogas plant is located in Haibowal dairy complex, where cow dung waste is coming from the dairies. As it is not sufficient, construction work on an additional biogas plant is going to start by the end of this month. The major issue is on Tajpur Road, where even after almost a decade, land could not be provided for installing the plant. According to the MC officials, out of 600-650 tonnes of cow dung is generated daily, approximately 250 tonnes is collected by the MC and vermi-composted through an agency, 210 tonnes is used by the compressed biogas (CBG) plant at Haibowal, and almost 100 tonnes is used by nearby villagers as compost. However, 70-80 tonnes is still being discharged into the Buddha water body untreated. Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) is running a 210 TPD cow dung plant at Haibowal, and an additional 300 TPD capacity CBG plant will be operational in two years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo The MC has allocated land for this purpose. However, the land permissibility issue at Urban Estate, Glada, where 2.4 acres was allocated by Glada for another 300 TPD CBG plant for Tajpur dairy waste, is still ongoing as residents are protesting against this plant. The Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) is examining the feasibility of provisioning alternate land in its 15-acre industrial pocket at Tajpur Road for the same, in consultation with PEDA. According to PEDA officials, they have raised the demand of Rs 18 crore for giving this land to them for the plant. Municipal commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal admitted that without finding a solution to dairy waste, it was difficult to solve the Buddha Dariya pollution issue and for that, CBG plants are a must. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rejuvenation nearly done but Buddha Dariya still in choppy waters
Ludhiana: The Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation Project in Ludhiana, aimed at cleaning the polluted Buddha Nullah and preventing further contamination, is nearing completion. Initiated on December 2, 2020, the project was originally scheduled for completion by December 1, 2022, but delays pushed the deadline to August 31. As of now, the project is 99% physically complete, with only the final pumping station at Gaughat pending full commissioning. The project was designed to tackle the long-standing issue of untreated sewage and industrial waste flowing into Buddha Nullah. It involved the construction of sewage treatment plants (STPs), pumping stations, effluent treatment facilities for dairy complexes, and the rehabilitation of existing STPs. The total estimated cost was Rs 650 crore, with the tender awarded at Rs 519 crore and an additional Rs 22 crore as a provisional sum. The operation and maintenance costs were pegged at Rs 321 crore. According to civic officials, once the Gaughat pumping station is operational, there will be no direct entry point for domestic raw sewage into the drain. However, several critical issues remain unresolved. Notably, solid cow dung waste and coloured industrial discharge continue to reach the STPs, raising concerns about potential damage to the treatment machinery. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Officials from the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board have warned that if these pollutants are not addressed, they could compromise the functionality of the STPs. The Gaughat station faced delays due to legal complications over land acquisition, but 80% of the work has been completed following the allotment of alternate land. A partial setup is already handling around 30 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage, while the remaining flow is being diverted to the 225 MLD STP at Jamalpur through temporary arrangements. Before the project began, Buddha Dariya was polluted by five major sources: Liquid domestic waste, solid municipal waste, solid and liquid cow dung, and industrial waste. The project has successfully addressed liquid domestic waste and liquid dairy waste, but the remaining categories were not included in its scope. One of the most pressing concerns is the solid waste from dairy units located at Tajpur Road and Haibowal. While a bio-CNG plant exists at Haibowal, it is insufficient to handle the volume of waste. Another plant is planned but not yet operational. At Tajpur Road, the proposed bio-CNG facility is still far from completion. Similarly, industrial effluents continue to reach the STPs, posing a serious threat to their long-term viability. Municipal commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal has stated that the project is nearly complete and that all tasks within its defined scope have been executed. He also acknowledged ongoing efforts to tackle remaining issues, which fall outside the original project framework. Past Cleanup Efforts --Efforts to clean Buddha Dariya began as early as 1996 under the Satluj Action Plan, which included installing STPs in Jamalpur, Bhattian, and Balloke. However, these initiatives failed to produce lasting results --In 2011, UPA-II government launched a bio-remediation project worth Rs 16 crore, involving green bridges and bacterial treatment. However, disputes over funding and maintenance led to its collapse --Subsequent governments proposed multiple Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) --Engineers India Limited (EIL) estimated a cleanup cost of Rs 1,338 crore --Under the AMRUT scheme, another DPR suggested, expanding STP capacity at a cost of Rs 491 crore --Despite these plans, implementation remained elusive. Even NEERI scientists reportedly gave up after assessing the extent of pollution Launch of the Rejuvenation Project In 2020, the Punjab government finally launched the Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation Project under the Smart City Mission and AMRUT schemes, with a budget of ₹650 crore. The project aimed to: Establish new STPs and pumping stations Rehabilitate existing treatment infrastructure Set up effluent treatment plants for dairy complexes While the project is now 99% complete, unresolved issues like solid cow waste and industrial effluents continue to threaten its success MSID:: 122642208 413 |
