Six years after the launch of the Rs 840-crore Buddha Nullah rejuvenation project in Ludhiana, a fresh controversy has erupted over the construction of a retaining wall in the nullah’s catchment area.
The ongoing construction activity violates environmental safeguards and has drawn the attention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that has directed the Punjab government to halt all types of construction in the catchment areas of the nullah and sought detailed maps from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).
However, residents of New Deep Nagar (located close to the nullah) have alleged that construction of the retaining wall and an adjoining road is continuing despite the NGT’s directions.
For nearly three decades, Buddha Nullah has been one of Punjab’s most pressing environmental challenges. Successive governments have repeatedly promised clean-up drives, courts have monitored the issue and more than Rs 1,500 crore has been spent on various projects. Yet, large stretches of the watercourse continue to carry polluted water before joining the Sutlej River.
Efforts to clean the nullah began in the 1990s under the Sutlej Action Plan. Over the years, funds were allocated for sewage treatment plants (STPs), pumping stations, dairy waste management systems and bio-remediation projects. By 2010, the Punjab government had informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Rs 377 crore had already been spent on cleaning the nullah.
A major push came in 2020 with the launch of the Rs 840-crore rejuvenation project. Additionally, more than Rs 50 crore was spent on developing roads, fencing, lighting and landscaping along the nullah banks. The government also continues to spend around Rs 1 crore annually on desilting operations.
Authorities claim that most components of the project have been completed. PPCB data indicates an improvement in water quality at monitoring points such as Walipur, Tajpur and Haibowal. Pollution levels have declined compared to previous years, while Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) have shown improved performance.
However, sewage and dairy waste continue to enter the watercourse at multiple locations, limiting the overall impact of the clean-up effort.
Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, who has been involved in efforts to revive Buddha Nullah for years, says direct discharge of dyeing waste has largely been stopped. However, concerns remain over discharges from CETPs and pollution at several spots.
“The battle is far from over,” he said.
The Buddha Nullah project highlights a larger challenge facing Punjab’s environmental management efforts. While infrastructure has been created and official indicators suggest improvement, public confidence remains low because the visible condition of the nullah has not changed to the extent people had expected.
As polluted water continues to enter the Sutlej, the impact is felt far beyond Ludhiana. The river system supports agriculture and groundwater resources across large parts of Punjab and downstream areas of Rajasthan.
Almost 30 years after clean-up efforts began, the question remains whether Punjab can transform Buddha Nullah from a symbol of environmental neglect into a success story of river restoration.
