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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo 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.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Uncertain of e-waste volume, Punjab starts statewide audit of sources
Chandigarh: To clamp down on and track electronic waste, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has launched a statewide mapping exercise to identify and catalogue all e-waste sources. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiative aims to compile a comprehensive inventory of bulk consumers, repair and dismantling units, authorised recyclers, and informal sector operators across Punjab. Electronic waste includes discarded electrical and electronic equipment—from refrigerators and washing machines to computers, mobile phones, televisions, and small appliances. Proper disposal is vital to protect public health and environment: it prevents the release of toxic substances such as lead, cadmium, and mercury into soil and water, and conserves valuable resources. In contrast, uncontrolled dumping or informal dismantling can contaminate ecosystems, harm human health, and contribute to resource depletion. At present, PPCB only receives data from industrial sources that voluntarily report their e-waste figures. Information from the informal sector and smaller generators remains largely unknown. With e-waste emerging as one of the fastest-growing waste streams, regulators see this inventory as essential to bringing unmonitored actors under formal oversight. PPCB senior officer Parveen Saluja, who oversees e-waste management, said they were in the process of engaging experienced consultants to conduct a comprehensive statewide survey on e-waste. An expression of interest (EoI) has been invited for this purpose. The survey will cover a wide range of stakeholders, including bulk consumers, service centres, repair shops, collection points, informal dismantlers, recyclers, and others involved in the e-waste ecosystem. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The selected agency will be responsible for collecting field data, compiling records, and delivering detailed reports, which will guide the state in formulating robust strategies for e-waste collection, recycling, and safe disposal. PPCB officials added the findings from this exercise will form the backbone of a state action plan on e-waste, enhance compliance monitoring, and curb illegal handling and disposal practices. They also emphasised the importance of raising awareness among consumers and informal sector workers about the hazards of improper e-waste disposal—an effort they believe will promote more responsible and sustainable practices across the board. By combining data-driven governance with grassroots engagement, Punjab hopes to establish a cleaner, more sustainable framework for managing its burgeoning e-waste challenge. BOXES Responsible handling a must Under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, every stakeholder in the e-waste lifecycle bears specific obligations to ensure responsible handling and recycling. These rules apply to all electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I—along with their components and spares—and cover producers, manufacturers, importers, refurbishers, collection centres, recyclers, and bulk consumers. Rules for producers, manufacturers Producers and manufacturers must register with the Punjab Pollution Control Board, establish and finance collection systems, and guarantee environmentally sound take-back, recycling, or disposal of their products under an extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework. Authorisation must for recyclers, dismantlers Recyclers and dismantlers are required to obtain authorisation, follow prescribed processes such as safe dismantling, shredding, and material separation, and maintain detailed records of all quantities handled. Bulk consumers—large offices, institutions, and similar organisations—must channel their end-of-life equipment exclusively to authorised collection points or recyclers. By embedding these obligations throughout the e-waste chain, the rules promote a circular economy, conserve valuable resources, and mitigate the environmental and health risks posed by toxic substances in discarded electronics. NEED FOR AUDIT Uncontrolled dumping or informal dismantling can contaminate ecosystems, harm human health, and contribute to resource depletion At present, PPCB only receives data from industrial sources that voluntarily report their e-waste figures Information from the informal sector and smaller generators remains largely unknown With e-waste emerging as one of the fastest-growing waste streams, regulators see this inventory as essential to bringing unmonitored actors under formal oversight
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Waste treatment plants face hefty fines amid violations
Even as the state and central government have pumped in crores of rupees for the construction of sewage and effluent treatment infrastructure in Ludhiana, these facilities have come under serious scrutiny for repeated environmental violations. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has slapped environmental compensation (EC) running into crores on various common effluent treatment plants (CETPs), effluent treatment plants (ETPs), and sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the city for failing to comply with environmental norms in the past few years. In several orders issued over the past few years, the PPCB has pointed to a consistent failure in plant operations, ranging from non-functioning equipment to untreated discharge being released into natural drains. While the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC), in its defence, has submitted that it completed the construction of several STPs and handed them over to the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the penalties continue to be imposed due to lapses during operational control and maintenance periods. According to officials, these violations indicate serious negligence on the part of the civic body and related departments. While crores have been spent on the construction of these plants, environmental compensation of almost equal magnitude has been levied — reflecting systemic issues in their operation and monitoring. Among the biggest violators is the CETP at Bahadur Ke. In a series of five different EC orders issued between October 2022 and January 2025, a total penalty of nearly ₹10 crore has been imposed. Similarly, the 50 MLD CETP near the Central Jail on Tajpur Road has faced six EC orders in just four months between September 2024 and January 2025, with fines totalling over ₹5 crore. The 40 MLD CETP at Focal Point was hit with a ₹2.96 crore penalty this March. Meanwhile, STPs at Balloke and Bhattian have also faced fines ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹68 lakh each. Environmental compensation has also been imposed due to the non-installation of CETPs for dairy complexes, with the PPCB issuing a ₹3.6 crore penalty in March 2023. Environmental experts have raised concerns about the mounting penalties, warning that unless strict accountability and timely corrective measures are implemented, the city will continue to face both ecological damage and financial loss. The situation reflects a dual failure- massive investments made into the infrastructure on one hand, and a string of costly environmental penalties on the other. With EC orders continuing, the civic body is now under pressure to not only fix the operational gaps but also ensure that environmental safeguards are genuinely implemented on ground. PPCB chief RK Rattra said, 'The EC has been imposed by the PPCB during past few years and regular action is also being taken against offenders. Few of the compensations have been deposited but rest remain yet to be submitted by the departments and CETPs.' Rajya Sabha MP, Balbir Singh Seechewal said, 'The 2.25 MLD ETP, which was made few years ago on Tajpur Road at the cost of ₹9 crore but EC imposed on this plant is more than ₹3 crore which is a sheer wastage and pressure on common people as this is taxpayers' money. I request the MC officials and other departments to dispose of the cow dung at Tajpur Road dairy complex area so that the ETP can run properly and cow dung is not released into the Buddha Nullah.'
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
At public hearing, residents of 50 Punjab villages oppose paper mill at eco-sensitive zone
Bathinda: A public hearing at Chamkaur Sahib on April 30, 2025, regarding the establishment of a paper mill on 200 acres turned out to be historic, as residents of the area crossed the first hurdle in stopping the establishment of the industry in an ecologically and water-sensitive area, as indicated by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report sent by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to the Union environment, forest, and climate change ministry. PPCB had sent the proceedings of the public hearing to the central ministry on May 22. Earlier, the paper mill had filed an application for obtaining environmental clearance for the production of 1.65 lakh TPA writing and printing paper, along with 1.26 TPA wood pulp, on May 22. The environmentalists and residents of the area, comprising nearly 50 villages, claim they do not want a polluting industry to come up in the area, which is rich in heritage and ecologically sensitive. PPCB has duly mentioned the views expressed by most of those present at the public hearing. The report has been made public. Environmentalists claim that some similar public hearings have been organised in Punjab in recent years for setting up such industries, but this hearing turned out to be historic as the residents from various villages en masse opposed the establishment of the industry. Many questions were asked, which became increasingly difficult for the PPCB and the industry to answer during the hearing, which lasted for about four hours. During the voting, most of the hands were against the establishment of the industry, said members of the pro-environment organisation Public Action Committee (PAC). PAC members stated that the proceedings, as reported, do not support the establishment of the industry. According to the report, out of a total of 873 citizens present, only 20 or so voted in favour, and the rest were against it. Another legal hurdle that has beset the industry was a notification produced by the activists under the Environment Act, which states that no red-category industry will be set up within 500 metres of a water source. "The land purchased for this mill has the Buddha Dariya flowing only 10 metres on one side and the Neelon Canal flowing 200 metres on the other. If such a red-category mill is set up, the risk of pollution to the surrounding water sources increases significantly. The Neelon Canal is used to supply drinking water to Ludhiana city in the summer, and the Buddha Dariya has already earned a reputation for spreading cancer to South Punjab and Rajasthan," said a source. Jaskirat Singh of PAC said that the history created by the team of Chamkaur Sahib Morcha has saved the future of Punjab's drinking water from a very big threat to some extent. However, now this battle has reached the Union environment ministry, and it is very important for the people of Punjab to send their views at that level so that the industry does not get the environmental clearance. MSID:: 121394506 413 |
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Punjab Pollution Control Board issues ultimatum to Ludhiana's scattered dyeing units to adopt zero-liquid-discharge technology or shift out of city.
Ludhiana: The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has issued a final ultimatum to nearly four-dozen scattered local dyeing units — adopt zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology by the end of the year or shift operations outside the city. The directive is part of an intensified crackdown to prevent untreated industrial effluents from contaminating the Buddha Dariya, a heavily polluted urban drain in the heart of the city that joins the Satluj. While cleaning efforts outside Ludhiana have shown significant progress, authorities are struggling to curb wastewater inflows within city limits, from small-scale dyeing units particularly. R K Ratra, chief engineer at the PPCB, said: "Operators of these units must either install ZLD systems or relocate to designated industrial hubs. The deadline for infrastructure setup is Sept 2025, with full compliance expected by Dec." Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, a noted environmental activist, is spearheading efforts to restore the Buddha Dariya through community-driven 'kar sewa' (voluntary service). Despite these efforts, several units operating in pockets such as Industrial Area, Jalandhar Bypass, and Samrala Chowk continue discharging untreated wastewater into municipal sewers, undermining the broader cleanup mission. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 그랜저 월32만원에 신차장기렌트 지금 바로! ★특판할인★ 렌트런 할인 보기 Undo The owners of a few units have submitted compliance proposals to the PPCB. While a few are adopting ZLD, others prepare to move their operations outside city limits, where treated water will be repurposed for irrigation. Larger textile manufacturers, meanwhile, are opting to outsource dyeing to third-party fabricators or cease in-house processing altogether. Notably, while the PPCB urged Ludhiana's municipal corporation to disconnect sewer lines of non-compliant units more than two years ago, no action has been taken. Officials cite pending decisions from the state govt as the reason for inaction. As the Dec 2025 deadline looms, PPCB officials have claimed that monitoring and enforcement will intensify to ensure Ludhiana's waterways are no longer used as industrial dumping grounds. MSID:: 121314890 413 |
