Latest news with #PunjabPollutionControlBoard
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Central Pollution Control Board's report identified five stretches on water bodies in Punjab as polluted, Rajya Sabha told
Bathinda: A Central Pollution Control Board's 2022 report has identified five stretches on water bodies in Punjab as polluted, minister of state for Jal Shakti Bhushan Chaudhary informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The stretches are located on the Ghaggar, Satluj, Sirsa (a tributary of Satluj), Swan (a tributary of Satluj), and Kali Bein (a tributary of Beas). In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the minister stated that it is the primary responsibility of states, UTs, and local bodies to ensure the treatment of sewage and industrial effluents before discharging them into water bodies or land to prevent and control pollution. For the conservation of rivers and tributaries, the jal shakti ministry is supplementing the efforts of the states and UTs with the implementation of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) on a cost-sharing basis, the minister said. Under the NRCP, pollution abatement schemes for the conservation of the Ghaggar were sanctioned at Rs 57.11 crore, and a sewage treatment capacity of 15 million litres per day (MLD) created. The minister said, according to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board, 28 STPs with a total capacity of 291.7 MLD have been set up in the Ghaggar river catchment area, and 15 STPs with a capacity of 97 MLD are in different stages of implementation. For the conservation of the Sutlej and Beas under the NRCP, pollution abatement works were sanctioned at Rs 717.32 crores, and a sewage treatment capacity of 648 MLD was created. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To address pollution concerns of the Satluj due to the discharge of Buddha Nallah, which carries municipal, industrial, dairy, and other wastes from Ludhiana town, the Punjab govt has undertaken the Buddha Nallah rejuvenation project. The project included setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) of 225 million litres per day (MLD) at Jamalpur and 60 MLD at Balloke, rehabilitation of four STPs - 111 MLD and 50 MLD at Bhattian and 152 MLD and 105 MLD at Balloke, and two effluent treatment plants of capacity 3.75 MLD and 2.25 MLD for the treatment of wastewater from Haibowal and Tajpur Road dairy complexes. Balbir Singh Seechewal, a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, asked about the measures being implemented to address the pollution levels in the Satluj, Beas, Ravi, and other rivers in Punjab. He inquired whether there are any targeted projects or interventions in place to restore and rejuvenate these rivers, particularly concerning wastewater discharge and industrial effluents, and the plan of the ministry to involve local communities, industries, and stakeholders in sustainable river management and conservation efforts. MSID:: 122975010 413 |
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Officials to crack down on Buddha Nullah dung dumpers
Ludhiana: In a decisive move to curb pollution in the Buddha Nullah, joint teams of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), police, and Municipal Corporation (MC) will take strict action against dairy owners found dumping cow dung into the water body starting August 1. The announcement came during a review meeting held at the Jamalpur Sewer Treatment Plant, which was chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal. The meeting was attended by Ludhiana East MLA Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, and senior officials from Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), drainage, Punjab State Power Corportion Limited (PSPCL), Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), and Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada). Representatives of the Tajpur Road Dairy Farmers Association also attended the meeting. MP Seechewal emphasised that while the administration was not targeting any specific group, dumping cow dung into the Buddha Dariya was unacceptable and a clear violation of environmental norms. He noted that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had also taken serious note of the issue and warned that violators would face legal action, including payment of environment compensation (EC). In addition to targeting dairy waste, PPCB officials were directed to take strict action against dyeing units discharging untreated effluents into MC sewer lines or directly into the drain. Authorities were instructed to remove encroachments along riverbanks, including those outside city limits. Both MP Seechewal and MLA Grewal urged people to support the initiative, stressing the importance of collective responsibility in protecting the environment. The crackdown marks a significant step in ongoing efforts to restore and preserve Ludhiana's water bodies and improve urban sanitation.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Buddha Nullah pollution logjam: NGT to hear 11 clubbed petitions
Ludhiana is bracing for a crucial hearing at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday, as 11 separate petitions concerning pollution in Buddha Nullah have been clubbed into a single case. The matter revolves around allegations that dyeing industries in Ludhiana are discharging untreated or inadequately treated effluents into the Buddha Nullah, causing severe water contamination. Environmental activists and members of the Public Action Committee (PAC) have accused the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) of failing to enforce NGT's previous orders, particularly those directing closure of outlets from Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) operated by dyeing industry associations. Activists claim that despite repeated directives, effluents continue to be discharged into the drain, posing a threat to public health and the environment. In response, the PPCB has submitted a short reply to the tribunal, stating that it has taken action against the violators. The board claims to have imposed environmental compensation (EC) on the CETPs for non-compliance. Specifically, the 50 MLD CETP at Tajpur Road has been fined Rs 2.49 crore since its inception. The 40 MLD CETP, also at Tajpur Road, has been penalised Rs 2.96 crore, and a bank guarantee of Rs 75 lakh has been encashed. Meanwhile, the 15 MLD CETP at Bahadur K Road has been fined Rs 4.5 crore. The hearing will also address the issue of 54 scattered dyeing units allegedly discharging effluents directly into the sewer system connected to Buddha Nullah. Several appeals have been filed by industry associations challenging PPCB's orders. These include: Punjab Dyers Association's appeals against PPCB's orders dated September 25 and 26, 2024, to stop discharge from the 50 MLD and 40 MLD CETPs, Bahadur Ke Textiles Knitwear Association's appeal against similar orders dated September 25, 2024, concerning the 15 MLD CETP, appeals against revocation of consent to operate the 40 MLD CETP at Jamalpur, Awana and challenges to EC orders issued in December, 2024 and January, 2025, including a Rs 3.73 crore penalty imposed on Bahadur Ke Textiles. The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC) has also stepped in, issuing show cause notices to all three CETPs following recent inspections that revealed serious lapses. A report submitted by the ministry highlights the lack of compliance and implementation of previous directives. As the NGT prepares to hear the consolidated case, officials from multiple government departments and industry representatives are expected to face tough questions. The outcome of this hearing could have significant implications for environmental governance and industrial accountability in Ludhiana. Key Allegations Activists & PAC accuse Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) of failing to enforce NGT orders The main concern is discharge of untreated/partially treated effluents from dyeing units and CETPs into Buddha Nullah Environmental Compensation (EC) Imposed --50 MLD CETP (Tajpur Road): Rs 2.49cr --40 MLD CETP (Tajpur Road): Rs 2.96cr and Rs 75 lakh bank guarantee encashed 15 MLD CETP (Bahadur K Road): Rs 4.5 crore Industry Appeals Punjab Dyers Association: Challenging PPCB orders dated Sept 25 & 26, 2024 Bahadur Ke Textiles Knitwear Association: Challenging EC and discharge stoppage orders Other Appeals: Against revocation of consent to operate and EC notices issued in Dec 2024 & Jan 2025 Government Action MoEF&CC Issued show-cause notices to all three CETPs Inspection findings: Serious lapses and non-compliance reported Report submitted: Highlights failure to implement previous directives What's at stake 54 Scattered Dyeing Units: Allegedly discharging effluents directly into sewer lines Activism and legal battles could reshape environmental accountability and industrial regulation in Ludhiana
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Rajya Sabha member Seechewal pulls up MC officials over coloured water from Jamalpur drain flowing into Buddha Dariya, PPCB collected samples on the spot.
Ludhiana: Toxic industrial effluents are once again flowing unchecked into the Buddha Dariya after a key motor at a pumping station failed, disrupting treatment operations and allowing untreated water from the Jamalpur drain to enter the river directly. The incident has sparked serious environmental concerns, with local dyeing and industrial units suspected of contributing to the contamination. Normally, the drain's wastewater is diverted to the 225 MLD treatment plant through three motors. However, with one out of service for several days, the remaining system has been overwhelmed — allowing most of the drain's polluted discharge to bypass treatment and spill into the Buddha Dariya. Water samples were collected from the site on Tuesday under the supervision of Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials, who were acting on instructions from Rajya Sabha MP and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal. The samples are expected to help identify the factories responsible for illegal dumping. "The people of Malwa and Rajasthan are drinking this contaminated water. It is linked to rising cases of cancer and other serious illnesses," Seechewal said, adding that the lack of accountability among officials has allowed this ecological disaster to deepen. Accountability crisis Seechewal accused both the PPCB and Ludhiana municipal corporation of neglecting basic maintenance and monitoring duties. "Until responsibilities are clearly fixed, nothing will improve," he said, accusing the bureaucracy of delaying efforts to restore the seasonal drain and convert it into a rejuvenated water body. He also said he had raised the issue directly with chief minister Bhagwant Mann, warning that pollution in the Buddha Dariya would persist unless strict action was taken against non-compliant officers and polluting industries. Ongoing cleanup effort The Buddha Dariya has long suffered from industrial waste discharge, especially from local dairies and dyeing factories. The second phase of a public clean-up initiative — the Kar Sewa — began on Dec 22, 2024, with Seechewal at the helm. The campaign received support from the-then Punjab governor, Banwarilal Purohit, who held three high-level meetings on the issue during his visit to Ludhiana. Despite these efforts, Seechewal claims that bureaucratic inertia continues to obstruct real change. "The same lobby that turned this seasonal stream into a black, foul-smelling drain is now resisting its revival," he said. He urged residents and civic groups to exert pressure on officials to stop the discharge of untreated waste and to support the long-term revival of the Buddha Dariya. MSID:: 122783966 413 |
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
After Mattewara textile park, now Punjab villagers up in arms against cement plant project
'Punjab should promote tourism, non-polluting industry to preserve its air, water, and fertile land,' cried the villagers of Talwandi Aklia, who are up in arms against the proposal of setting up a cement plant in Mansa district. The villagers have outrightly voted against the proposal at a public hearing committee meeting held on July 14 at Talwandi Aklia in which the representatives of the cement plant, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials, Mansa district administration officials, residents of nearly 20 villages of Mansa and members of the public action committee (PAC) from across the state had participated. JSW Cement is to set up a high-capacity cement manufacturing unit with an estimated production capacity of six million tonnes per annum (MTPA) on 19 hectares of land covering Talwandi Aklia and neighbouring Karamgarh Autanwali villages. The company has already acquired around 67 acres of land. According to villagers, nearly 40 acres have been sold to the cement company by a US-based NRI who hasn't visited Punjab for years. 'A majority of the villagers voted against the proposal to set up this cement plant. Now let's see what happens next. We will stay alert, and if the project gets environmental clearance from the Punjab government despite our stiff resistance, we will start agitation against it. They can set up agro-based projects, cotton mills, etc. But why a cement plant?' asked Manpreet Singh Aklia, an activist of Talwandi Sabo Morcha set up to fight against the project. He is a farmer from Aklia village of Mansa. According to sources, the cement company will be setting up two production units and an additional grinding unit. The public hearing on the project's environmental impact was organised by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). It was attended by hundreds of local villagers, farmers, and activists under the banner of the newly formed 'Talwandi Morcha'. 'We fear for our future,' said Manpreet Singh, a farmer from Talwandi Aklia who participated in the hearing. 'Such large-scale red-category industries bring pollution and health hazards. Our fields, air, and water will all suffer,' he said. Already there is one thermal power plant in Banawali village of Mansa located nearby and the villagers said they can't afford to have another polluting unit. 'Villagers raised alarm over the plant's categorisation as a 'red-category' industry — a classification reserved for industrial units that pose a significant risk of pollution. They argue that cement dust emissions and possible contamination of groundwater could jeopardise agriculture, the mainstay of the local economy,' said Jaskirat Singh, a member of PAC. Local youth and women, too, have joined the campaign, holding awareness meetings and door-to-door campaigns to rally more villagers, said Kapil Arora, another PAC member. Villagers feared that apart from air and water pollution, the unit will also damage the roads of villages after hundreds of cement-laden trucks and many trucks carrying fly ash from Banawali thermal power plant to be used as raw material in the cement factory will cross the roads quite often. Representatives of JSW Cement and district officials tried to allay fears during the hearing, promising strict adherence to environmental norms and highlighting possible job opportunities for local people. However, villagers remain unconvinced, pointing to past examples where job promises were not kept. The final nod for the plant will depend on environmental clearances at the national level under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006. Meanwhile, local resistance is likely to intensify in the coming weeks, with the Talwandi Morcha planning further meetings, legal consultations, and protests. 'The conflict underlines the delicate balance between industrial expansion and community rights in Punjab's agrarian belt, where farmers already face mounting challenges related to land use, groundwater depletion, and pollution,' said Jaskirat Singh. The PAC had previously mobilised strong opposition to the Ruchira Paper Mill project near Chamkaur Sahib, with its public hearing held on April 30. During this hearing, residents from around 50 villages, backed by PAC activists, raised urgent concerns about the mill's proximity — just 10 metres —to Buddha Dariya and about 200 m from the Neelon Canal, both key water sources. Out of 873 attendees, 853 opposed the project, citing risk of severe water contamination in an ecologically vulnerable zone. Similarly, in January–July 2022, PAC led a campaign against the proposed Mega Textile Park at Mattewara in Ludhiana voicing fears over threats to the Sutlej river ecosystem and local forests. That sustained activism led to the Punjab government cancelling the project in July 2022.
