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Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: NGT stays MC works along Buddha Nullah
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a stay on illegal construction works being carried out along the Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana and has constituted a four-member committee to investigate alleged encroachments and environmental violations, the Public Action Committee (PAC) said on Friday. An NGO has filed a petition over the Buddha Nullah encroachments. (HT Photo) The PAC, an NGO, had filed a petition raising concerns over the narrowing of the drain bed due to the construction of roads and RCC retaining walls by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC), allegedly without mandatory approvals. Appearing virtually before the Tribunal, PAC members Kapil Arora and Kuldeep Singh Khaira said they had already filed a complaint to the principal secretary of the water resources department, MC, PPCB and other concerned bodies on May 31. They warned that the ongoing narrowing of the natural drain could lead to serious flooding in surrounding colonies and overflow of toxic effluents, putting public health at risk. 'The bed width of Buddha Nullah has been reduced from 58 feet to as little as 35 feet at various locations, a decrease of 40%, which is unacceptable,' Arora said. PAC members Jaskirat Singh, Amandeep Singh Bains and Gurpreet Singh also pointed out that the water resources department failed to prevent the construction. Taking cognisance of the matter, the NGT bench has directed formation of a committee comprising officials from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC), the drainage division of the water resources department, PPCB and the deputy commissioner. The team has been asked to conduct a site visit, verify the allegations, assess the impact on water flow and ecology and submit a report within eight weeks. The NGT has also directed the district magistrate to ensure that no further unauthorised construction takes place along the Buddha Nullah until the matter is resolved. The next date of hearing has been set for October 14, the NGO stated. This NGT action follows concerns raised earlier by the department of water resources regarding the narrowing of Buddha Nullah due to 'unapproved' road and bridge construction by the MC. In a letter issued to the MC commissioner, the department warned that reducing the drain's bed width without a no objection certificate (NOC) or approval of general arrangement drawings (GAD) could result in severe urban flooding. 'The works at multiple points have compromised the drain's flow capacity,' said Rajat Grover, executive engineer, Ludhiana drainage division. 'Structures like roads and bridges are being built on the floodplain, in clear violation of safety norms.' The department had surveyed areas such as Shivpuri, Madhopuri and New Kundan Puri and flagged unauthorised construction near Burji numbers 65,550, 66,350, 75,900, and 81,800, warning that the situation could become critical with the onset of monsoon. Affidavit sought on waste mgmt In another case, the NGT has directed the deputy general manager (DGM) of the Punjab Mandi Board to file an affidavit within two weeks, disclosing the daily waste generated at the wholesale vegetable market, its method of treatment and the exact quantity of garbage currently lying at the site. The direction came during a hearing on a plea filed by Public Action Committee (PAC) members Kapil Arora and Mohit Jain, who had first approached the Tribunal in 2023 highlighting the poor waste management and frequent garbage burning at the market premises. In an earlier hearing, the Tribunal had formed a joint committee of the district magistrate, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation to take necessary remedial steps. The PPCB had submitted a report instructing the Mandi Board to process waste in line with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and ban single-use plastics at the market. The NGO said the volume of untreated legacy waste has grown and that the Mandi Board, instead of managing the waste on site, had a pact with the MC to shift the garbage to the Tajpur Road dump site, 'violating waste management rules'. During the hearing on July 10, the DGM of the Mandi Board admitted in court that over 10,182.60 cubic metres of legacy waste, roughly 8,000 metric tonnes or 2,050 tractor-trolleys of garbage, is lying in the market area. The petitioners presented a live video showing the actual condition of the garbage strewn across the market. The NGT bench noted that the DGM was unable to answer basic queries about the current waste volume and treatment so it directed the DGM to file a detailed personal affidavit in two weeks. The next hearing has been scheduled for August 21.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: No action against units polluting Buddha Nullah, allege activists
A non-governmental organisation — Public Action Committee (PAC) — has launched a scathing attack on the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), accusing it of protecting dyeing industries responsible for the illegal discharge of untreated effluent into the Buddha Nullah. The committee said it has filed contempt petitions in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against PPCB officials and directors of two common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) for 'failing' to follow environmental norms and 'misrepresenting' facts before the tribunal. Members of Public Action Committee have accused the PPCB of deliberately weakening legal cases against the units polluting Buddha Nullah. (Manish/HT) PAC members Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Jaskirat Singh said that despite clear NGT orders directing the PPCB to ensure compliance with environmental clearance norms and stop the release of industrial waste into the Buddha Nullah, the board 'failed' to act effectively. The board not only supported the dyeing industry's shifting arguments but also deliberately delayed legal proceedings by changing lawyers and submitting misleading replies,' they said. The PAC said, 'The dyeing industrial units initially claimed confusion over the NGT's directions. Later, they blamed the state government for failing to construct the Lower Buddha Nullah drain and finally argued that environmental clearance was not applicable to them after a 2018 central notification. They even denied the validity of the 2013 environmental clearance granted to their projects.' Environmental activists Amandeep Singh Bains, Kapil Arora and Gurpreet Singh pointed out that Ludhiana has already been classified as a critically polluted area by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), making environmental clearance mandatory under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. They said any industrial unit operating within a 5-kilometre radius of such areas must secure environmental clearance before starting operations. The PAC highlighted that the CETP projects had received financial grants based on environmental clearance conditions mentioned in the 2013 approvals, and over half of the construction was completed before 2018. The NGO further alleged that on December 23, 2024, the PPCB submitted before the NGT that CETPs had complied with norms — a claim the committee called false. They said contradictory statements from the industrial units and evidence suggested otherwise, leading them to move the NGT with contempt pleas against the member secretary and chief engineer of the PPCB, as well as the directors of the 40MLD and 50MLD CETPs. The committee also accused the PPCB of deliberately weakening legal cases. Although criminal complaints were lodged against the CETP operators, the PPCB allegedly failed to provide complete addresses in court documents, making it difficult for courts to issue summons. Even after the issue was flagged, the board took no corrective action, the PAC alleged. The PPCB, instead of acting in public interest, is busy protecting violators, the PAC added. When contacted, PPCB chief engineer RK Rattra refused to comment. 'The matter is already under consideration and is being heard by the National Green Tribunal . So I can't comment.'
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Buddha Nullah: PPCB failed to act against dyeing units, says PAC
Ludhiana: In a strong statement issued on Thursday, members of the Public Action Committee (PAC) have accused the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) of repeatedly colluding with dyeing industries of Ludhiana to shield them from legal accountability for continuous discharge of untreated effluents from their respective common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) into the Buddha Nullah. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Members of the PAC Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Jaskirat Singh said following appeals filed by the dyeing industries against the PPCB orders to stop CETPs, they had submitted three separate applications before the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The tribunal, in response, directed the PPCB to act in accordance with environmental clearance (EC) conditions and to stop effluents in the Buddha Nullah. "Initially, the dyeing industries and the government claimed they did not understand NGT orders. Then the industry blamed the Punjab government for failing to construct lower Buddha Nullah. They later shifted their stance, claiming that environmental clearance was no longer required after a 2018 Central government notification. Shockingly, the PPCB supported such shifting interpretations and kept changing lawyers to waste time and continue illegal discharge into the Buddha Nullah. " Other members of the PAC Dr Amandeep Singh Bains, Kapil Arora, and Gurpreet Singh said the city had been declared one of the critically polluted cities in India by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, any dyeing industry within 5km of a critically polluted area must obtain an EC before receiving even a "consent to establish" from the sate pollution board. All three special purpose vehicles (SPVs) managing CETPs had already received grants based on EC conditions outlined in 2013, and over 50% of the construction was completed before 2018. Interestingly, CETP directors themselves admitted in their own recent press release that the NGT issued closure orders to their plants. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On December 23, 2024, the PPCB informed the tribunal that compliance was achieved, a claim PAC called misleading and factually incorrect. Based on the contradictory statements from the dyeing industries and ground realities, contempt petitions have been filed against the member secretary and chief engineer of the PPCB, along with directors of 40MLD and 50MLD CETPs. The PAC members also alleged that the PPCB, despite being fully aware of legal and environmental violations, had permitted ongoing contamination of the Buddha Nullah since the CETPs became operational. Even after NGT directives, the PPCB remains a mute spectator. Although criminal cases were filed against CETP directors, PPCB deliberately omitted full addresses in court complaints, making it impossible for courts to deliver summons. Despite being informed, PPCB failed to rectify the error, which PAC claims was a deliberate attempt to protect the violators. "This clearly shows that the PPCB is acting like a puppet regulatory body, shielding polluters rather than protecting public health," said the PAC. They added that the Punjab government itself was unwilling to act against the violators. Even after assuring the NGT that a compliance report would be submitted by March 20, 2025, no such report has been filed till date, they added.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PAC issues legal notice to authorities over illegal constructions on green areas in Ludhiana
LUDHIANA : A group of environmental activists has issued a legal notice to senior city authorities, accusing them of violating court orders systematically by encroaching upon greenbelts and parks in one of the country's most polluted cities. The Public Action Committee (PAC) on Thursday served the notice to the principal secretary of the local bodies department, the municipal corporation of Ludhiana, and the Improvement Trust (LIT), warning of legal action in the National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) if construction on protected green spaces is not halted and reversed within three weeks. Activists Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Dr Amandeep Singh Bains said the city faced an "acute shortage" of green areas, in the densely populated old city particularly and unauthorised new colonies. "Instead of addressing the crisis, authorities are worsening it — building over parks and greenbelts in blatant violation of Supreme Court and NGT rulings," they alleged. They further claimed these encroachments are happening in "active connivance" with agencies such as MCL and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA). Other PAC members, including Kapil Arora and Gurpreet Singh Plaha, said that despite previous demolition orders, including one for the MC's Zone-D extension building and another for a library built in a park on Old GT Road, similar projects continued unchecked. "The pattern is clear: habitual defiance of legal orders," said Arora. "It appears officials are more interested in appeasing politicians than upholding the law." Citing current violations, the activists named fresh constructions underway at Old GT Road, Barewal Awana, BRS Nagar's Dog Park, and Janta Nagar's library park — all allegedly funded with public money. Activist Jaskirat Singh said multiple complaints filed through the Punjab govt's m-Sewa platform have gone unanswered. "These departments are a threat to sustainable urban development. They're not managing a single environmental project properly and are wasting taxpayer funds," he said, demanding that the cost of illegal constructions be recovered from the officials who authorised them. The PAC has demanded restitution of greenbelts and parks, warning it will escalate the matter to the NGT if no corrective action is taken within 21 days. MSID:: 121362354 413 |
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PAC issues legal notice to authorities over illegal constructions on green areas in Ludhiana
Ludhiana: A group of environmental activists has issued a legal notice to senior city authorities, accusing them of violating court orders systematically by encroaching upon greenbelts and parks in one of the country's most polluted cities. The Public Action Committee (PAC) on Thursday served the notice to the principal secretary of the local bodies department, the municipal corporation of Ludhiana, and the Improvement Trust (LIT), warning of legal action in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) if construction on protected green spaces is not halted and reversed within three weeks. Activists Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Dr Amandeep Singh Bains said the city faced an "acute shortage" of green areas, in the densely populated old city particularly and unauthorised new colonies. "Instead of addressing the crisis, authorities are worsening it — building over parks and greenbelts in blatant violation of Supreme Court and NGT rulings," they alleged. They further claimed these encroachments are happening in "active connivance" with agencies such as MCL and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA). Other PAC members, including Kapil Arora and Gurpreet Singh Plaha, said that despite previous demolition orders, including one for the MC's Zone-D extension building and another for a library built in a park on Old GT Road, similar projects continued unchecked. "The pattern is clear: habitual defiance of legal orders," said Arora. "It appears officials are more interested in appeasing politicians than upholding the law." Citing current violations, the activists named fresh constructions underway at Old GT Road, Barewal Awana, BRS Nagar's Dog Park, and Janta Nagar's library park — all allegedly funded with public money. Activist Jaskirat Singh said multiple complaints filed through the Punjab govt's m-Sewa platform have gone unanswered. "These departments are a threat to sustainable urban development. They're not managing a single environmental project properly and are wasting taxpayer funds," he said, demanding that the cost of illegal constructions be recovered from the officials who authorised them. The PAC has demanded restitution of greenbelts and parks, warning it will escalate the matter to the NGT if no corrective action is taken within 21 days. MSID:: 121362354 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
