Buddha Dariya pollution: PAC files plea against PPCB & CETP directors in NGT
Ludhiana: The Public Action Committee (PAC) filed a contempt petition against the concerned PPCB officials and directors of the Bahadur Ke Road Common Effluent Treatment Plant for intentionally violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders on effluent discharge into Buddha Dariya.
The original petition was filed against three CETPs: Bahadur K Road, Tajpur Road, and Focal Point. However, PAC members have now filed a contempt petition against Bahadur Ke Road CETP members because it received a separate environment compensation in 2014, which mandated Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) — a condition it consistently failed to meet. All three CETPs were funded by central and state govts yet failed to honour mandatory conditions due to the active connivance of PPCB officials.
PAC members Jaskirat Singh and Kapil Arora shared that Ludhiana's dyeing industry clusters have been illegally discharging effluent into Buddha Dariya for decades. After sustained citizen efforts, three CETPs were constructed, but PPCB failed to place their Environmental Clearance (EC) documents in the public domain. It also allowed three unauthorized outlets to discharge into the waterbody. Even after CPCB directions, PPCB gave undue time for clusters to appeal closure orders instead of enforcing environmental compliance.
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The PAC filed three separate cases against each CETP, following which NGT directed PPCB to act strictly in line with EC conditions. They also pointed out that the state govt has repeatedly changed its lawyers before the Tribunal to stall proceedings and protect violators.
PAC members Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Preet Dhanoa said that despite the NGT's clear orders in November 2024, the PPCB and state govt misread the directions and permitted continued effluent discharge into Buddha Dariya.
This amounts to contempt of court and reflects how public health has been sidelined in favour of polluters.
Dr Amandeep Singh Bains and Gurpreet Singh said that the NGT reiterated that EC conditions are binding and ruled that no coercive action would be taken against the CETP only if it fully complied with environmental norms. It further clarified that violating the zero discharge condition amounts to non-compliance with the law.
They shared that despite these clear directions, PPCB officials continued to allow the illegal discharge of toxic waste into Buddha Dariya. They alleged that even after giving official undertakings, the state govt has not submitted a compliance report to the NGT, while pollution continues unchecked under official protection. The members claimed that it is on these grounds that they filed this contempt petition under the NGT Act, which allows for up to ₹10 crore in fines or three years' imprisonment, or both.
PAC called on the Chief Minister of Punjab to break official silence, stop shielding violators, and take meaningful action to restore public faith in governance and environmental justice.
However, when contacted, the PPCB Chief Engineer RK Ratra said, "The matter is pending in the tribunal, so it is difficult to comment on the same, and moreover, I am unaware of any such contempt petition. I can only comment after verifying things."
April 2024 - NGT took suo moto notice of media reports about Buddha Dariya pollution and failure of samples collected from the drain.
August 2024 - A team from the Central Pollution Control Board conducted an inspection, and as per the environment clearance granted to the CETPs, the treated water shall not be discharged into Buddha Nullah, so it ordered PPCB to take appropriate action.
September 2024 - PPCB issued orders to CETPs to close their outlets, but when they did not follow the directions, PPCB also filed three criminal cases against directors of three CETPs at a local court.
November 2024 - NGT issued orders to CETPs to comply with EC conditions.
December 2024 - Kale Pani Morcha activists staged a massive protest at Ferozepur Road.
December 2024 - NGT clarified its own orders that it is not a blanket stay and compliance with EC is a must. After that, multiple orders were issued, but no action was taken by the govt or CETPs; therefore, now contempt is filed.
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