Ludhiana: In a significant move toward urban sustainability, the municipal corporation (MC) has initiated the process to secure the prestigious “Water+” tag for Ludhiana. The civic body issued a public notice on Wednesday seeking objections from residents, providing a 15-day window for registration. Following the completion of this statutory process, the MC may be declared Water+. The Water+ certification represents the highest level of wastewater management, ensuring that 100% of a city’s sewage is collected and processed in treatment plants, with no untreated water released into rivers or drains, and that the treated output is actively reused.Environmentalists flag Buddha Dariya pollutionHowever, environmentalists and city residents have raised sharp objections to the civic body’s claims. Col CM Lakhanpal (retd) submitted a formal objection to the MC commissioner on Wednesday, asserting that polluted water and dairy waste containing dung continue to flow into the Buddha Dariya daily. He further claimed that the effluent released from existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) does not meet environmental standards. Lakhanpal questioned the validity of the Water+ declaration and the actual extent of wastewater reuse within the city. Similarly, activist Kuldeep Khaira questioned why the Buddha Dariya remains unrejuvenated if, as officials claim, all industrial and domestic sewage is being processed through CETPs, STPs, and dairy ETPs.To qualify for this tag, a city must first be certified Open Defecation-Free (ODF), a status Ludhiana achieved years ago. The city subsequently earned ODF+ and ODF++ tags, ensuring the scientific collection and disposal of faecal sludge and the maintenance of public toilets. Officials stated that if successful, Ludhiana would be the fifth MC in India to achieve this distinction. MC Commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta maintained that the city fulfills the necessary requirements, which will bolster its annual rating under the Swachh Bharat Mission. She noted that after addressing public objections within the two-week timeframe, the proposal will be presented to the House. Upon receiving House approval, the Municipal Corporation will officially declare Ludhiana a Water+ city, aiming for a cleaner environmental footprint. MSID:: 130281936 413 |
