Latest news with #Seechewal
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
2 minors drown at Seechewal event; activists seek FIR
A day after two minor boys drowned in Buddha Nullah on Tajpur road in Ludhiana during a religious event organised by AAP Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal, city environmentalists and activists demanded an FIR and a thorough probe into the incident, questioning how 'ghats could be allowed on the banks of a polluted stream without any safety checks'. Seechewal has been doing 'sewa' by cleaning the polluted Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana for the past few months. At the ghat where the incident took place, he had organised 'ardaas' (prayer gathering) on Sunday and had invited people to participate in the event. He had posted the invitation on his official Facebook page, reading that the event was organised to pray for 'Sarbat da bhala' (wellbeing of all) and 'vishav vich sukh shaanti' (world peace). He claimed in the invite that the Buddha Nullah water was 'comparatively clean' near the Central Jail on Tajpur road where the event was organised. The families of both minors — Abhay Kumar, 15, and Gurjeet Singh, 13 — who drowned on Sunday, alleged that organisers had made no safety arrangements, while the organisers claimed that the children were repeatedly warned 'not to go towards the side where water was deep'. Demanding an FIR and a thorough probe into the incident, activists and environmentalists under the umbrella of the Public Action Committee (PAC), in a statement questioned that 'how such ghats were allowed to open at first place, and that too in the polluted waters of Buddha Nullah laden with industrial chemicals and effluents'. PAC member Kuldeep Singh Khaira said, 'The drowning incident needs a very quick and high-level investigation after registration of an FIR under appropriate sections of the BNS.' 'In the first place, how were such ghats allowed next to the outlets of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) by the government, and which officials gave permission? What was the need for such ghats when the primary demand was to stop industrial effluents? Which officer did the safety audits of these ghats? Why has no FIR so far been registered? Where is accountability? Will anyone be held responsible for the two deaths?' questioned Jaskirat Singh, another PAC member. The PAC has been alleging that Seechewal is using 'unscientific methods' to clean the Buddha Nullah laden with industrial effluents and chemicals from industries, and questioned how poisonous chemicals can be removed from the stream by doing a 'kar sewa'? Kapil Dev, an engineer and a PAC member, said, 'These ghats should be named 'Akal Di Ghat' (lack of wisdom) and 'Sharam Di Ghat' (lack of shame) as they were not for any productive purpose or cleaning of the stream but simply due to a tearing hurry of the government and Baba Seechewal to take credit before cleaning the stream. On the one hand, the government is not following NGT orders despite multiple reminders to stop illegal CETPs, while on the other, they are in such a hurry to create ghats which have nothing to do with cleaning of the river.' Seechewal, meanwhile, expressed his 'sadness' over the incident and said, 'The event was organised to celebrate the 'ceasefire' between India and Pakistan. What happened was truly unfortunate. People were asked not to go to the side where the nullah was deep, but they still went despite this. Inspector Bhupinder Singh at the Division Number 7 police station said no FIR had been registered so far into the incident. 'We have filed inquest proceedings as it was a tragedy,' he said.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Drowning of 2 boys in Buddha Dariya: PAC seeks registration of FIR
Ludhiana: After two boys drowned in an under-construction bathing ghat near Ram Das Nagar, activists of the Public Action Committee (PAC), Mattewara, raised questions about public safety and demanded accountability in the case. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Calling for registration of an FIR against those responsible, they urged authorities to check whether these ghats were fit for bathing, as similar incidents could occur in the member Kuldeep Singh Khaira, said, "The most unfortunate incident involving the drowning of two young boys of Ludhiana in Buddha Dariya needs a very quick and high-level investigation after registration of FIR." He questioned how the government allowed such ghats next to outlets of CETPs and which officials gave permissions. He also questioned the need for such ghats when the primary demand was stopping of industrial effluents and asked whether any safety audits were carried out. He also asked why no FIR had been registered so far and who was responsible for the two Kapil Dev and Jaskirat Singh said that the ghats did not serve a practical purpose. They claimed that the state government had made the ghats to take credit for making Buddha Dariya pollution-free without addressing the root cause of the problem. On one hand, the govt is not following NGT orders despite multiple reminders by the green tribunal to stop illegal CETPs. On the other hand, they are in a rush to create such structures, which have nothing to do with cleaning the a direct attack on environmentalist, MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, activist Dr Amandeep Bains said, "Baba Seechewal is continuing with his unscientific ways, which can be harmful and dangerous. The news of children drowning at his ghats has not deterred him. He has started removing sludge from the Tibba Road area. Flow of industrial effluents has not been stopped, three CETPs of the dyeing industry are still spewing chemicals, and Seechewal is removing sludge and opening recharge channels of the river. What kind of water will recharge to the ground? Will it not be industrial effluents that will percolate down into the groundwater of Ludhiana? Who will take responsibility for that?" However, supporters of MP Seechewal maintained that no one was supposed to bathe in the ghat, which was still under construction. They claimed that they were still levelling the drain at that point so that people could bathe there without issues. Meanwhile, cleaning of the drain at Tajpur Road continued on Monday as per the daily Attacks CM MannActivists condemned CM Bhagwant Mann's claim that PAC was slamming Buddha Dariya activists for doing nothing on the issue of "water theft" by BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board) and Haryana. They claimed that the CM had questioned their absence at the dharna he was holding at Nangal against the BBMB chairman. They maintained that they had already issued statements in support of the rights of Punjab on its waters. The activists said that their team was contesting multiple NGT cases against the Punjab government, including those of illegal CETPs of the Ludhiana dyeing industry and illegal reverse boring by Malbros at Zira. They said that the CM and state government were not following NGT orders to shut down illegal CETPs of the dyeing industry. MSID:: 121110630 413 |
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Time of India
Punjab: Two minor boys drowned to death at bathing ghat of sant Seechewal in Ludhiana
LUDHIANA: Two minor boys drowned to death at the bathing ghat constructed by Sant Balbeer Singh Seechewal along Budha Dariya, at Tajpur road on Sunday at around 1:30 PM. A religious function was organized by Seechewal there on Sunday that was to be followed by langar. The residents of the nearby areas had gone there to take part in the religious function where both the victims had also gone with their respective families. During the function, the minor boys Abhay, 15 and his friend Anshu, 13- resident of Ramdas Nagar, jumped inside the bathing ghat to take a plunge but drowned to death. Sub- Inspector Bhupinder Singh, SHO at Division number 7 police station said that the people present at the spot had tried to rescue the children however till the time they could take them out of the water, they had died. Operation Sindoor 'Our job is to hit target, not to count body bags': Air Marshal Bharti on Op Sindoor Precautionary blackout imposed across parts of Rajasthan, Punjab 'Indian Navy was in position to strike Karachi': Vice Admiral on Operation Sindoor SI added, both the victims were neighbours and had come to the spot along with their respective families to pay obeisance at a path of Sukhmani Sahib was being organized there at the ghat. The official said that it was an unfortunate incident. The police are recording the statements of the kin of the victim to proceed further. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Quality of water in Buddha Dariya improving: Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal
Ludhiana: Environmentalist and Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal visited the spot near Central Jail where Buddha Dariya flows and claimed that TDS levels of the water were gradually coming down. However, the actual test starts beyond this point, where treated water from the common effluent treatment plants of dyeing units, as well as the 225 MLD sewage treatment plant, flows into the drain. Expressing optimism about the improvement in quality of water in the Buddha Dariya, Seechewal said that he had directed officials to ensure that no untreated water flowed into the drain. Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) was asked to monitor industrial units regularly and catch defaulters dumping untreated waste water into the the wake of repeated reports of industrial discharge reaching the STP, members of the Kale Pani Da Morcha group have been slamming authorities for not acting against violators. Operation Sindoor Pak drones enter Indian airspace, explosions heard just hours after truce deal Sirens, explosions in border districts after Pak breaks deal: What we know so far 'What happened to ceasefire?' J&K CM after explosions heard across Srinagar They even asked the administration to close down outlets of CETPs as they were not valid Seechewal asked civic officials to get the Buddha Dariya near the national highway cleaned as the flow of water at this point is not smooth. With the MC shifting the responsibility to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the MP will fix a meeting with NHAI authorities to get the cleaning said that they had cleaned part of the drain and were regularly monitoring the situation. He said that TDS levels were coming down and they would continue with their cleaning drive. After waste material was scooped out of the drain, its depth increased by five feet, Seechewal said. He expressed the hope that the Buddha Dariya would not flood over on this stretch as they had raised the level of the banks by four feet. Seechewal started cleaning the Buddha Dariya with his supporters last December. Since then, residents of villages near Tajpur Road have experienced remarkable changes in the condition of the drain. A bathing ghat was constructed near Bhukhari village, where people bathed on Baisakhi, while a cleanliness drive is going on at a second bathing ghat near Tajpur Road. MSID:: 121057006 413 |
