o address the pollution crisis plaguing the ‘Buddha Dariya’, the Punjab Government has stepped up its commitment with Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal on Sunday visiting the ‘Buddha Dariya’ site along with the 225 MLD Jamalpur Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) on Tajpur Road to oversee the ongoing cleaning and waste management initiatives. The visit was aimed at assessing the progress and accelerating the resolution of longstanding environmental challenges, including the critical issue of cow dung disposal that has severely impacted the river’s water quality.

During their visit, the two were joined by several prominent local politicians and officials, including Ludhiana East MLA Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Ludhiana North MLA Madan Lal Bagga, and Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. Senior bureaucrats, including Additional Chief Secretary (Local Bodies) Tejveer Singh, Local Bodies Department director Gurpreet Singh Khaira, and officials from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB), were also present to discuss critical measures.

Addressing the ongoing pollution from cow dung, Dr Ravjot and MP Seechewal emphasized the urgent need to establish biogas plants in Haibowal and Tajpur Road dairy complexes for proper disposal of cow dung. Currently, one biogas plant is operational at Haibowal, and plans for an additional plant are underway.

In the interim, local authorities have been instructed to hire private contractors to lift and transport the cow dung from dairy complexes to designated disposal sites. Civic body officials assured that machinery and manpower had been deployed, and tenders would be floated soon for the required contracts.

Additionally, they highlighted the importance of regulating waste management in dyeing industry. Dr Ravjot and MP Seechewal directed the PPCB to conduct regular checks on Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and STPs operating in the region to ensure compliance with environmental standards. They also issued clear instructions to prevent illegal dumping of electroplating industry waste into the sewer lines, a key contributor to the contamination of the river.

Another significant step discussed during the visit was the temporary arrangements being made by the Sewerage Board to pump sewage waste from the gaushala point to the Jamalpur STP, until the Intermediate Pumping Station (IPS) is established at the site. Due to a pending court case, the IPS project has been delayed, but contractors have been directed to ensure that all dairy units in the area are properly connected to the waste disposal system to prevent further contamination of Buddha Dariya.

Both Dr Ravjot and MP Seechewal reiterated their commitment to cleaning ‘Buddha Dariya’, stressing that they were not against industries but would not allow pollution to continue unchecked. They emphasized that public cooperation was crucial in this cleanup mission.

Renowned environmentalist and MP Seechewal, who is personally overseeing the second phase of ‘Kar Sewa’ for rejuvenating the river, also appealed to the people to join the movement, particularly highlighting the historical and religious significance of the river. Additionally, illegal sewer connections from dairy units have already been disconnected in recent weeks as part of the broader efforts to restore the river's health.

Hooda demands compensation for farmers for damage caused by hailstorm

Chandigarh: Haryana’s former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday demanded compensation for the farmers for the damage caused to standing wheat and other crops due to hailstorm in parts of the State.

He said that hailstorms had occurred in about 150 villages of many districts of the state — Hisar, Palwal, Gurugram, Fatehabad, Bhiwani, Jind, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Kaithal and Sirsa — in the last two days. “Due to this, standing crops of wheat, mustard and vegetables have suffered heavy losses, he added. About 60 to 80 percent damage has been seen in the mustard crop. Along with this, the crops of Kinnow, potato, cabbage, tomato and other vegetables have also suffered serious damage,” he said.

Hooda said that he has raised the demand for proper compensation to farmers by getting its special girdawari (revenue assessment) done. For the past several years, BJP has entangled the farmers in the portal's web in the name of compensation. “The government should free the farmers from this mess so that they can get compensation directly. The pending compensation for the last several seasons should also be paid to them soon,” he demanded.

Govt should resolve farmers’ demands as soon as possible and end Dallewal's fast

Alleging that Centre is constantly ignoring farmers’ problems and demands, Hooda said that the farmers were still agitating for MSP. “Dallewal’s condition remains very worrying, but BJP is not even ready to take cognizance of it nor it is talking to the agitators. The government should resolve farmers’ demands as soon as possible and end Dallewal's fast,” he added.