Manpreet Singh
Faridkot, 7 December (Vipin Mittal): A discussion was held at the residence of Gurpreet Singh Chandbaja, President of Bhai Ghanaiya Cancer Prevention Society and Convenor of the Naroa Punjab Forum, to address the problem of polluted water in the Sutlej and Beas rivers caused by untreated industrial waste, factory effluents, dairy runoff, and urban sewage from Ludhiana and nearby areas flowing into the Budha Nullah.
Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan assured attendees that the government is taking the issue seriously and working diligently to find a solution. Engineer Jaskirat Singh from Ludhiana elaborated on the matter, highlighting how polluted water from Budha Nullah entering the Sutlej is causing severe health problems across the Malwa region and 15 districts of Rajasthan.
He pointed out that factories, dairies, and urban sewage are being discharged into Budha Nullah in blatant violation of the Pollution Control Board and National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines. Despite claims by successive governments, including the Akali-BJP alliance, Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), of allocating crores for cleaning Budha Nullah, the problem has worsened and become more complex.
Gurpreet Singh Chandbaja criticized industrialists for misleading the Pollution Control Board, NGT, and courts with false data. He also demanded strict action against officials and employees of the Punjab Pollution Control Board who provided incorrect information to the committee formed by Speaker Sandhwan to resolve the issue.
Chandbaja emphasized the sacred connection of Budha Nullah with Guru Nanak Dev Ji and of the Sutlej River with the Khanda-Batta ceremony, lamenting the lack of efforts to resolve the issue despite its religious and environmental importance.
Several participants, including Harvinder Singh Marwaha, Gurinder Singh Mehndiratta, Mahinder Pal Loomba, Maghar Singh Faridkot, Dr. Gurinder Mohan Singh, Daler Singh Dod, and Rajpal Singh Hardiyaleana, also highlighted conspiracies by industrialists to mislead the government and create conflict.
Speaker Sandhwan praised the “Kale Pani da Morcha” leaders for their composed and wise approach to tackling the issue and assured that a resolution will soon be reached. He reiterated that the government is committed to solving the problem earnestly.
Prominent attendees included Engineer Sukhjit Singh Dhillon (Chairman, District Planning Board, Faridkot), Sukhwant Singh Pakka (AAP District Youth President), Amandeep Singh Sandhu, Dr. Manjit Singh Dhillon, and several others from the local administration, activists, and community leaders.
