Ludhiana: Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal expressed strong dissatisfaction over the failure of local authorities to stop the illegal dumping of cattle dung and dairy waste into the Buddha Dariya, which continues to clog local sewage treatment plants (STPs) and derail the ₹800-crore rejuvenation project.During an inspection on Saturday, Seechewal found that despite ₹800 crore spent on constructing and upgrading STPs and effluent treatment plants (ETPs), around 75 tonnes of cattle dung continue to be discharged into the drain daily.At the Balloke 160-MLD facility, wastewater laced with cattle urine and dung caused severe operational issues. Officials noted that the STPs are designed strictly for domestic sewage, causing machinery to sustain repeated damage.Additionally, the three-well Seechewal Model units set up for Talwara and Barnhara villages—as well as a temporary setup at the Tajpur dairy complex—were found completely clogged with dung, forcing raw wastewater directly into the drain.Seechewal criticised officials from the municipal corporation, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) for failing to curb pollution. He also urged the animal husbandry department to investigate alleged hormone injections given to milch cattle and highlighted severe overcrowding in local dairy units.Meanwhile, the PPCB issued notices to 10 printing units, mostly on Bahadur Ke Road, for air and water pollution.While 263 FIRs have been registered against dairy owners—117 at Haibowal and 146 at Tajpur—no arrests have been made to date.Following the inspection, Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu advised Seechewal to write directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a probe, noting that central funds under the ₹800-crore project were effectively “going down the drain” due to non-functional facilities.
