Buddha Dariya water pollution: ‘Punjab govt, Centre downplaying crisis,’ says PAC after NGT hearing

Public Action Committee (PAC), urged the bench to implement PPCB’s own closure orders for the CETPs and accused the Board and industry players of collusion to delay action.

By: Express News Service

Chandigarh | Updated: July 23, 2025 11:33 IST

National Green Tribunal (NGT) Tuesday heard 14 clubbed cases, focusing notably on the legality and functioning of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) operated by Ludhiana's dyeing industry. (Express Archive)

In the ongoing legal battle over extreme water pollution in Ludhiana’s Buddha Dariya, now infamously known as Buddha Nullah, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Tuesday heard 14 clubbed cases, focusing notably on the legality and functioning of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) operated by Ludhiana’s dyeing industry. The dyeing industry has been allegedly dumping untreated waste in the stream.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) informed the bench that a new industry minister, PPCB chairperson, and Member Secretary are now in place, all having intent to resolve the issue. PPCB submitted that it has enlisted IIT Ropar to draft a comprehensive solution and has imposed penalties worth crores on the three CETPs for violating environmental clearance (EC) conditions. Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) submitted an affidavit acknowledging non-compliance by the Punjab Dyers Association and Bahadarke Dyeing Association. The ministry sought two months time to enforce compliance or take action. The Tribunal directed the ministry to consider including affected residents as stakeholders.

The petitioner, Public Action Committee (PAC), urged the bench to implement PPCB’s own closure orders for the CETPs and accused the Board and industry players of collusion to delay action. PAC also filed three execution applications-cum-contempt petitions for non-compliance with the NGT’s December 9, 2024 order. The contempt petitions seek coercive action against PPCB officials and CETP directors for continued discharge of untreated effluent into Buddha Dariya. Taking note, the Tribunal issued notices to PPCB and the CETP special purpose vehicles (SPVs). The contempt charges could lead to penalties of up to Rs 10 crore or imprisonment up to three years or both for willful disobedience of Tribunal orders. The NGT will next haer the petitions on October 7.

Speaking outside the court in Delhi, PAC member Kapil Arora said, “The PPCB, Punjab government and the Centre continue to downplay the crisis. The PAC, with other organizations, will intensify its efforts to hold authorities accountable and end these delaying tactics.”

In its affidavit, the MoEF&CC has also said that “that environmental clearance (EC) is mandatory” for all common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) in Ludhiana.

The MoEF&CC has also served show-cause notices to three CETPs operating without EC and valid consents of the PPCB, recently. Notices were issued to the 15 MLD CETP at Bahadurke, the 40 MLD CETP at Focal Point, and the 50 MLD CETP at Tajpur Road. The notices pointed out multiple serious violations, including illegal discharges into Buddha Nullah, failure to take consents under environmental laws, and not adhering to stipulated safety and environmental norms.

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