Er. Kapil Arora
Ludhiana: The release of 200 Cusec of water to Budha Nallah from Neelon is like beating around the bushes only as it will just push the pollutants fast into Satluj River. Even the impurities which have settled down with time may also get pushed to River Satluj due to such practise.
The skin of Dyeing and Electroplating Industries have always been saved by PPCB and with release in water from Neelon before CETP become operational, the facts that Industries are mainly responsible for non-biodegradable Pollution to Budha Nallah will not get exposed.
No doubts, the lack of proper drainage system for domestic waste in Ludhiana due to poor working of MCL is also one of major cause behind Pollution in Budha Nallah (Dariya) but the waste (except detergents) is biodegradable and in the presence of Oxygen and Sun light, such waste gets decomposed with time and travel. Further such biodegradable waste do not have much affect on aquatic life.
In my opinion, planning and timing of releasing fresh water just before trials of CETP is another way to save the skins of Polluting Industries. Therefore, CETP should be made operational first so as to know about the facts about major cause behind Pollution of Budha Nallah. No doubts Oxygen present in Fresh water would decrease the pollution of Budha Nallah but that is limited to decrease in pollution of biodegradable waste. The Non-biodegradable Waste will just get diluted but not decompose. If mixing of fresh water would have effectly reduced the pollution, the polluted water of Satluj (caused by Budha Nallah) would not have caused serious problems like Cancer and Hepatitis-B to citizens residing hundreds of kilometers away from Ludhiana.
Further I doubt the intentions of Govt. Of Punjab regarding releasing Water in Budha Nallah as it passes through Dhanasu and with Paint Industry and Corrugated Box Industry coming up there, such step might have been done to give way to Category A Industries to dispose their pollutants in Budha Nallah.
In my opinion, planning and timing of releasing fresh water just before trials of CETP is another way to save the skins of Polluting Industries. Therefore, CETP should be made operational first so as to know about the facts about major cause behind Pollution of Budha Nallah. No doubts Oxygen present in Fresh water would decrease the pollution of Budha Nallah but that is limited to decrease in pollution of biodegradable waste. The Non-biodegradable Waste will just get diluted but not decompose. If mixing of fresh water would have effectly reduced the pollution, the polluted water of Satluj (caused by Budha Nallah) would not have caused serious problems like Cancer and Hepatitis-B to citizens residing hundreds of kilometers away from Ludhiana.
Non-biodegradable toxic chemical & heavy metals which are being released by Dyeing & Electroplating Industries are mainly responsible for health issues/diseases and releasing water from Neelon is mere an eyewash & beating around the bushes only.
9.50 CRORES SPENT ON PROJECT OF RELEASING 200 CUSECS OF FRESH WATER FROM NEELON
9.50 Crores spent on Project of releasing 200 Cusecs of fresh water from Neelon ... Sheet Piling Concept used to prevent water to enter construction area ... The irrigation department has claimed that special equipments were transported form other state for such technology .... We smell corruption in huge amount spent on such small project as such technology is very common in private sector and even sheer piling is being done for repairing NH-44 Flyover at Khanna by SOMA Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. too. Sheet piles can be embedded using Poclain (excavator) Machine and cost of Poclain Machine is around 50-60 lakhs only. (Er. Kapil Arora is a President of Council of Engineers)