Kale Pani Da Morcha urges PPCB to enforce NGT orders on Buddha Dariya Pollution
Babushahi Bureau
Ludhiana (Punjab), December 3, 2025 — Citizens associated with Kale Pani Da Morcha submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), urging immediate implementation of orders issued by the NGT, MoEF&CC, CPCB and PPCB regarding the long-pending violations by Ludhiana’s three Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) at Bahadur Ke Road (15 MLD), Focal Point (40 MLD) and Tajpur Road (50 MLD).
The group, following a peaceful march, highlighted that despite clear directions issued over the past two years—including NGT orders from November and December 2024 and July 2025—no action has been taken to stop the continued discharge of untreated industrial effluents into Buddha Dariya.
The memorandum noted that multiple official inspections by PPCB, CPCB and MoEF&CC have confirmed serious non-compliance, including illegal discharge, violation of Environmental Clearance conditions, operations without valid CTOs and the imposition of Environmental Compensation on all three CETPs.
The activists alleged that enforcement has stalled due to industrial pressure and internal resistance, even though several honest officers had issued strong directions under Section 33-A of the Water Act.
The Morcha demanded immediate enforcement of these orders, recovery of pending environmental compensation, closure of illegal bypass pipelines, monthly publication of compliance reports and protection for officers who documented violations.
They called for urgent action to permanently disconnect toxic discharge from entering Buddha Dariya and begin the river’s long-delayed rejuvenation.