The main demand of this front was to stop the pollution of the Budha Nallah passing through Ludhiana city. About 5-6 decades ago, the condition of this Nallah was not so bad. There was a time when it was called ‘Budha Darya’ and clean water flowed in it. Even if a coin was dropped in it, it would also be visible from a distance. The main thing is that the water in it was absolutely clean and it kept flowing continuously. But times changed, population increased, industries increased, with which overall pollution increased and this Budha River took the form of Budha Nallah. Both types of polluted water related to agriculture and non-agriculture started flowing in it. This river enters Ludhiana near Gurdwara Sri Charan Kanwal Sahib Machhiwara and falls into the Sutlej River near village Walipur of Ludhiana. At this place, the confluence of black and white water is clearly visible. There is no treatment plant installed at this place to clean the water of the Budha Nallah. The issue of its pollution increased with the chemical water being poured into it by industries while it passed through the city, especially by those factories that do dyeing and electroplating work. Domestic sewage also started flowing into it. At many places, sewer water also started flowing into it. Along with this, domestic waste, which contains a large amount of germs, started flowing into it. Now it contains many types of pollutants, including slaughterhouse waste and cow dung from dairies. On going closer to the Nallah, one realizes how much dirty water there is in it, which appears black in color, hence the name of the movement regarding the pollution of the Budha Nallah is ‘Black Water Front’.
It is good to have awareness among the people and it is even better to come together and raise your voice. In 1992, under the leadership of eminent scientist Professor Yashpal, ‘Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha’ was established in all the districts of the country to adopt a scientific approach and create public awareness for the conservation of the environment. At that time, we raised our voice through this voluntary organization in Ludhiana district about the pollution of Budha Nallah and other types of pollution that were spread in the city, but there was no special enthusiasm among the people at that time. Therefore, we started informing the people about the degradation in the environment by organizing various types of events in schools, colleges, neighborhoods, villages and many other places by organizing painting competitions, cultural programs, printing handouts and conducting seminars. Information was provided through cultural programs, in which a play named ‘Ek Nadi Ansu Bhari’ was performed 105 times at different places by IPTA Ludhiana, directed by Pradeep Sharma. Information about environmental pollution was spread by putting stickers on the back of scooters and cars. A booklet was also published after collecting data, in which the views of many scientists and health experts were published.
Together with the Punjab State Science and Technology Council, a single club was formed in schools. The Budhe Nallah was visited from its beginning to its end. Along with the leaders of Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha, Major Sher Singh Aulakh, Krishan Lal Malik, Dr. Balwant Singh, M.S. Bhatia, Pradeep Sharma and others, we obtained a lot of information. Later, journalists Rector Kathuria and Ramadhar Singh visited this Nallah and contributed to collecting a lot of information. At the district level, a ‘Paryavaran Vahini’ was formed, in which officers from various institutions were present and office bearers of our organization were its members. In this, reports were given by various officers and after discussion, measures were suggested to prevent pollution. Sutlej Action Plan was made and according to it, many measures were suggested to correct it.
The then government formed a committee, which was formed under IAS officer P. Ram and this committee came to be known as ‘P. Ram Committee’. Office bearers of our organization were part of this committee and discussed the maintenance of Budha Nallah with the committee many times. P. Ram was a Gandhian type of person who used to wear kurta-pyjama and used to carry his roti in tiffin. Therefore, there was a lot of hope that the recommendations of this committee would be accepted. Experts were called and many discussions were held with them. Doctors gave their views on what harm this spreading pollution will do and many scientists also conducted research on what kind of chemicals are being found in the Budha Nallah.
Many studies have revealed that the Budha Nallah contains many metals like arsenic, magnesium, lead, chromium, cadmium, etc., the amount of which is harmful. This water leaks from the Budha Nallah and spreads far and wide in the ground. After investigation, it was found that the ground water on both sides of the Budha Nallah has been polluted to a level that is harmful to health. Due to this, many diseases can occur in the human body, such as stomach ache, dysentery, affect on mental balance, vascular diseases, increased blood pressure, liver damage and mental illnesses, etc. Therefore, if health care is to be maintained, the Budha Nallah will have to be made pollution-free. The substances that are polluting it must be prevented from entering it. The administration should set up a joint treatment plant to make the water entering it free from pollution.
The treatment plants already installed are much less than the required quantity. One plant has been installed at Balloke, one at Qadian and one at Tajpur Road. The plants are not fully functioning at many places, due to which the waste water finally flows into the Sutlej.
Then in Harike Pattan, the Rajasthan Canal which emerges from it, receives dirty water, which on one hand goes to Rajasthan, on the other hand, the remaining river water goes towards Pakistan and this has a bad effect not only on the health of Ludhiana or Punjab but also on the health of the people of Rajasthan and Pakistan.
In many seminars and meetings, the idea was also raised that it should be covered, but then it came to light that it is not possible to cover it due to technical reasons. In fact, the only thing that is causing the uproar is that the administration and the Pollution Control Board have not taken appropriate steps in this regard. Strict action was not taken against the polluters, due to which the pollution continued to increase and due to this its water continued to become black, dirty and poisonous. Now the situation has become quite serious. Therefore, it has become necessary that the drain be cleaned thoroughly once and for all. Treatment plants should be set up as much as possible so that its water is cleaned and no dirty effluent is allowed to enter it and the administration should be strict about this. The same method that has been used to clean the Sidhwan Canal should be adopted for the old drain as well. Along with this, it is also necessary to continuously create public awareness among the people.
Small industrial establishments that are unable to set up private treatment plants should be jointly assisted by the government in setting up treatment plants. Pollution-causing establishments should be kept under control and on the other hand, people should also be strictly prohibited from throwing garbage into this drain.
Recently, the National Green Tribunal has directed the closure of some industries. This is a commendable step, but the government will have to take steps to provide for the livelihood of the thousands of workers who will be unemployed, and until they find suitable jobs, the government should provide them with assistance of Rs. 10,000 per month per worker.
