Buddha Nullah: Security beefed up as Kale Pani Da Morcha to stop discharge of effluents today

Police authorities have beefed up security around Buddha Nullah area and even on the entry points of Ludhiana as many associations, farmer unions will be coming from Malwa districts and Rajasthan on Tuesday.

The morcha has been raising a red flag about pollution in Buddha Nallah for long now. On Monday, activists Jaskirat Singh, Kuldeep Singh Khaira, Kapil Dev, film director Amitoj Mann and a few others wrote emails to the Ludhiana deputy commissioner and Ludhiana police commissioner.

In the email, they said, “We had given a call to the people of Punjab to come to Ludhiana on December 3, 2024, to stop illegal effluents from falling into Buddha Dariya. This has become necessary as the govt and Punjab Pollution Control Board are not taking any concrete action against polluters beyond issuing orders which remain on paper and are not enforced. For example, the Central Pollution Control Board issued an order on 12 August 2024 to close three outlets of dyeing industry CETPs followed by three separate orders by PPCB on 25 and 26 September for immediate closure of these illegal outlets. We had given a police complaint at Tibba police station in this regard but nothing happened on that. The NGT has not given a stay on those three orders despite appeals filed by the industry. The PPCB or the DC can get those orders implemented even today if they want and there is no technical or legal hurdle in that.”

The email noted, “The water of Buddha Dariya is a drinking water source of millions in south Punjab and Rajasthan and they are very severely affected by the consequences of drinking this toxic water which includes the children, the pregnant women and the elderly. It is only after all our requests to the govt and its various departments and agencies have failed to stop polluters throwing effluents in an illegal manner into the Buddha Dariya as no action taken by Punjab govt as well as PPCB is an act against Article 21 of Constitution of India for Citizens of Punjab and Rajasthan and to protect our fundamental right, we have announced the closure of illegal discharge of industrial effluent to protect the environment which is primarily the duty of Punjab govt under Article 48A of the Constitution of India but has failed to act despite repeated complaints raised by the affected people.”

“We want to inform you that this gathering is intended to be completely peaceful. Everyone has been asked to remain disciplined and abide by the law.

We request you to ensure security so that no untoward incident happens or any mischief is done by any intruders from the dyeing industry which have been aggressively threatening and challenging openly in their press conferences and that the people of Punjab are allowed to peacefully reach the illegal outlets on Tajpur road to close them without confrontation,” said Amitoj Mann, Jaskirat Singh, Kuldeep Singh Khaira and others in the email.

However, when The Indian Express contacted Gurpreet Singh Gogi, AAP MLA from Ludhiana West, he said, “I am concerned about the discoloured water of Buddha Nullah. I am finding pollution control board as the culprit.

However, the organisation has no right to take law and order situation in their hands. We appeal to them to follow peaceful mode of protest only.”

Ludhiana Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said, “Everyone has the right to protest but no one can take law and order in hands. The problems can be discussed at a platform. Our teams will be on duty and I am sure nothing untoward will happen.”