A significant environmental campaign to restore the health of Ludhiana's Buddha Dariya has marked a successful first year. The drive, spearheaded by Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal, was launched on December 22, 2024, with the ambitious goal of halting the flow of dirty and toxic water into the drain. After focusing on the outer sections, the initiative has now advanced into the city's interior areas, tackling pollution at its source.
From Nullah Back to Dariya: A Year of Transformation
On the anniversary of the campaign, Seechewal expressed gratitude to Ludhiana's residents for their growing awareness about the water body's pollution. He highlighted a symbolic shift, noting that the Buddha Dariya, which had degraded into the Buddha Nullah, is now being called Buddha Dariya once again. This change in name reflects the tangible improvements witnessed over the past twelve months.
Key achievements include preventing cow dung from 79 dairies in rural areas from entering the water and diverting 165 million liters per day (MLD) of sewage from the municipal corporation to a treatment plant. Seechewal also emphasized that the silt removal work proved crucial during the August floods, potentially saving riverside communities from greater impact.
Measuring Success and Facing Ongoing Challenges
The most striking evidence of progress comes from water quality tests. During a boat ride on Sunday, Seechewal measured the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the water at Sangat Ghat. The reading was approximately 160, a dramatic improvement from last year's level, which was over 2,000.
Despite this success, significant hurdles remain. The cleanup has entered a critical phase where workers create temporary beds to allow machinery inside the drain to clear silt. However, large heaps of black silt now line the banks, requiring proper disposal to prevent them from washing back in. Seechewal also pointed out that the treated water from the 225 MLD treatment plant and 40-50 MLD dyeing plants does not yet meet required standards, and the manure water from the Tajpur dairy complex still lacks proper management.
Political Support and Public Appeal
The campaign has garnered cross-party support. Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Ludhiana North, Madan Lal Bagga, recently joined the drive near Chand Cinema. He echoed the vision of transforming Buddha Nallah back into Buddha Dariya, expressing hope that people would soon be able to perform religious rituals on its banks as they did in the past. He made a fervent appeal to the public to stop throwing garbage into the water body, underscoring that lasting change requires community cooperation.
Seechewal remains optimistic, asserting that with continued public cooperation, the 100% target of the cleanup mission will be achieved. The journey of Buddha Dariya from a polluted drain to a revitalized stream continues, symbolizing a collective effort towards environmental redemption for Ludhiana.
