NGT Demands Transparency in Ludhiana's Buddha Dariya Case
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a significant order to the Ludhiana deputy commissioner, mandating the production of original revenue maps and records pertaining to the historic Buddha Dariya waterway. This directive comes in response to serious allegations that municipal authorities are illegally narrowing the drain, sparking a heated legal confrontation between environmental activists and the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.
Court Intervention Amid Environmental Crisis
The NGT's intervention is a critical development in an ongoing battle over the "concretisation" of Buddha Dariya, a process that experts warn is devastating the local ecosystem. With claims of illegal construction and flawed official reports, the margin for error—and the very survival of the river—is rapidly diminishing. The tribunal has set a deadline for the deputy commissioner to submit comprehensive documentation to resolve conflicting reports about the waterway's actual dimensions.
Required Documentation and Construction Freeze
The deputy commissioner must provide original revenue entries and maps of the area, along with a complete map of Buddha Nullah detailing its width at regular intervals across the entire contested stretch. Additionally, verification of buffer zones is required to ensure no illegal construction is occurring within protected boundaries. Crucially, the NGT has ordered a total freeze on any further illegal construction within the drain or its buffer zone until the next hearing scheduled for April 20.
Activists Challenge Flawed Committee Report
The Public Action Committee (PAC), which filed the complaint, successfully contested a January 9 joint committee report. Activists Kapil Arora and Kuldeep Singh Khaira argued that the report relied exclusively on statements from the Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana (MCL) rather than actual physical measurements. They further contended that the construction of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) retaining walls—purportedly to prevent overflows—poses a severe environmental hazard.
After reviewing photographic evidence submitted by the PAC, the court questioned the deputy commissioner about walls built above ground level directly within the waterway. The DC's counsel has requested additional time to formulate a response to these allegations.
Environmental Impact and Policy Violations
The applicants assert that on-ground measurements taken on February 27 reveal a substantial reduction in the width of Buddha Dariya. The environmental consequences of the ongoing work are multifaceted:
- Ecological Loss: Concretisation eliminates natural vegetation crucial for groundwater recharge and water filtration.
- Flood Risk: The dumping of earth and narrowing of the natural flow channel heightens the potential for catastrophic flooding.
- Regulatory Breaches: A 2018 Punjab government notification mandates a five-metre greenbelt along such water bodies, which activists claim has been "violated blatantly."
Unauthorized Developments and Encroachments
The petition also highlights that despite ongoing legal scrutiny, unauthorized roads and commercial structures continue to be erected. Concerns have been raised about potential religious encroachments near the Shivpuri Bridge, where the natural riverbed is reportedly being compromised. These developments underscore the persistent challenges in protecting the waterway from further degradation.
The NGT's order represents a pivotal moment in the fight to preserve Buddha Dariya, emphasizing the need for transparency and adherence to environmental regulations. As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the Ludhiana administration's compliance with the tribunal's directives and the broader implications for ecological conservation in the region.
