Latest news with #Seechewal
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.
Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: 12 Indians missing in Russia, MEA tells House
In response to a query raised by Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) confirmed that 12 Indian youths are officially missing in Russia. The issue concerns Indian citizens who were allegedly stranded and forcefully inducted into the Russian armed forces. Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that the Indian government has urged Russia to provide regular updates on the missing individuals. (HT File) Seechewal raised the matter in the Parliament on Thursday, urging the ministry to take the issue seriously. Despite disruptions in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, the government is obligated to respond to written questions submitted by MPs. In his query, Seechewal asked why families of the stranded individuals were not receiving updates and what steps the Indian government is taking to support and repatriate these citizens. He also sought details on travel arrangements, legal aid abroad, and the overall strategy being adopted in such sensitive circumstances. 'The ministry must clarify the obstacles faced in bringing these youths home and outline the actions being taken to overcome them,' he stated. Responding to the written question, minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the House that 98 have returned to India after serving in the Russian army. Of these, 13 remain in Russian service and 12 others officially listed as missing by Russian authorities. The minister said that the Indian government has urged Russia to provide regular updates on the missing individuals and to ensure their safety, well-being and early release. 'For those whose service has concluded, the Indian Embassy in Russia is facilitating their return by arranging travel documents and where needed, providing flight tickets,' the minister stated. He added that the safety and welfare of all Indian nationals abroad remain the Centre's highest priority and every request for assistance is acted upon promptly.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
12 Indians missing in Russia: Govt responds to Rajya Sabha MP's question
In response to a query raised by Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) confirmed that 12 Indian youths are officially missing in Russia. The issue concerns Indian citizens who were allegedly stranded and forcefully inducted into the Russian armed forces. Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that the Indian government has urged Russia to provide regular updates on the missing individuals. (REUTERS/Representative) Seechewal raised the matter in the Parliament on Thursday, urging the ministry to take the issue seriously. Despite disruptions in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, the government is obligated to respond to written questions submitted by MPs. In his query, Seechewal asked why families of the stranded individuals were not receiving updates and what steps the Indian government is taking to support and repatriate these citizens. He also sought details on travel arrangements, legal aid abroad, and the overall strategy being adopted in such sensitive circumstances. 'The ministry must clarify the obstacles faced in bringing these youths home and outline the actions being taken to overcome them,' he stated. Responding to the written question, minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the House that 98 have returned to India after serving in the Russian army. Of these, 13 remain in Russian service and 12 others officially listed as missing by Russian authorities. The minister said that the Indian government has urged Russia to provide regular updates on the missing individuals and to ensure their safety, well-being and early release. 'For those whose service has concluded, the Indian Embassy in Russia is facilitating their return by arranging travel documents and where needed, providing flight tickets,' the minister stated. He added that the safety and welfare of all Indian nationals abroad remain the Centre's highest priority and every request for assistance is acted upon promptly.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
4 villages get vacuum tankers from Seechewal
Ludhiana: MP and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal Monday provided vacuum tankers to four villages in the district using his MPLAD fund. It will benefit Bhukhri Khurd, Bhamia Khurd, Amar Colony, and Guru Ramdas Colony. Earlier, dairy waste and cow dung from these villages would flow directly into the Buddha Dariya. With the vacuum tankers, the wastewater will now be collected and disposed of in open fields, thereby preventing the Buddha Dariya from getting polluted. A grant of Rs 15 lakh was allocated for the tankers, which were formally handed over to the sarpanch of the villages in a ceremony attended by the MP, Buddhewal sugar mill chairman Zora Singh Mundian, and mayor Inderjit Kaur Gill. Sarpanch Satpal Singh of Bhukhri Khurd village, Balwinder Singh Virk of Guru Ramdas Nagar Colony, Kulwant Singh of Bhamia Khurd, and Rajinder Singh Hundal of Amar Colony thanked Seechewal for the initiative. Seechewal said, "The Buddha Dariya belongs to all Punjabis, and it is our collective duty to keep it clean. This river has been blessed by Guru Nanak, which makes it as sacred as the Holy Bein. That is why it is being cleaned with the same reverence and dedication."
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 |
