Ludhiana: Activists of the Public Action Committee (PAC), Mattewara Jungles, Satluj river and Buddha Dariya have alleged that industrial chemical pollution has received inadequate attention compared with dairy waste management in efforts to clean Buddha Dariya.In a statement, PAC member Col CM Lakhanpal said tackling dairy waste alone would not rejuvenate the drain unless untreated and partially treated industrial effluents were addressed simultaneously. He called for a comprehensive action plan covering all pollution sources.The PAC demanded identification of illegal industrial discharge points, inspections to detect concealed outlets and nighttime discharges, and independent testing of wastewater for heavy metals, toxic chemicals and dyes.It also sought proper dairy waste collection and treatment, action against illegal dairy connections to sewer lines, and an independent assessment of the Gaughat interim pumping station to determine whether untreated wastewater continued to enter the drain.The organisation flagged alleged dumping of fish and meat waste near Tajpur Fish Market, garbage and plastic disposal, illegal tanker discharge and encroachments. It sought GIS-based mapping of industrial units, dairies, sewerage networks and pollution points.PAC member Bawa Binepal demanded independent technical audits of major treatment facilities, including the Tajpur sewage treatment plant, common effluent treatment plants, dairy treatment facilities, Balloke STPs and Gaughat IPS.The committee reiterated its demand for zero liquid discharge wherever feasible and legally mandated, and proposed a time-bound action plan, with preliminary findings within 15 days, inspections within 30 days, corrective measures within 90 days and a progress report within six months.“Industrial chemical effluents, dairy waste and municipal sewage must be tackled simultaneously,” members said.A Punjab Pollution Control Board official said the board aimed to check all sources of pollution in the drain, including dairy waste, industrial effluents and other contaminants, and action would follow in the coming days. He said samples had been collected from outlets of the common effluent treatment plant on Tajpur Road to assess compliance with prescribed parameters.
