Ludhiana: The city industrialists have joined hands to check pollution levels of Buddha Nullah and give it a makeover.
Bahadur Ke Road Textile and Knitwear Association has roped in a Pune firm and prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to perk up the drain. As per the DPR, the drain will be covered and around 80-foot-wide road constructed on it. Besides allowing vehicular movement, the stretch will be equipped with a parking lot and commercial complexes.
While sharing its plans, the association said on Friday that it was ready to fund the Rs 2,500-crore project after the government approved it. “We will share the project details with chief minister Amarinder Singh and seek his approval. It will take five years to transform the drain. We plan to meet the CM through Thakur Uday Singh, head of Namdhari sect, Bhaini Sahib. Thakur Uday Singh is the chairperson of the task force formed by CM for cleaning Buddha Nullah,” said Rajat Sood, a member of the association.
The association president, Tarun Bawa, said, “We have been working on the report from the past six months. At present, the drain carries about 750 MLD water daily. The project has been designed with its capacity up to 2,500 MLD as it is planned for the next 50 years.”
On containing its pollution, he added, “Under the concrete road, there will be separate lines for carrying rainwater, treated industrial water and domestic sewage. At the end of the city limits, a 1,300 MLD sewerage treatment plant will be installed to treat the drain water. The idea is to cover the drain so that no waste is thrown into it. Besides, the road will better the city connectivity and the company will produce 20 MW electricity from drain water that can be sold to the government or the industry.”
Another member of the association Subhash Saini said, “The DPR has cost the association Rs 15 lakh. If the government approves it, the company will start work the next day. The government often blames fund shortage for delays in big projects. Here, they will not have to spend a single penny as the businessmen will fund it.”
The polluted Buddha Nullah is a matter of concern for the industrial hub as it has left residents of villages along its banks afflicted with many an ailment, like hepatitis C, lungs infection and skin problems, among others.
Earlier plans came to a naught
During the tenure of the SAD-BJP government, two detailed project reports were prepared for cleaning Buddha Nullah. The plans, however, remained on papers only. While Engineers India Limited had proposed to reform it at Rs 1,338 crore, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme’s Rs 491-crore proposal aimed to enhance the capacity of its sewerage treatment plants.
After the Congress government came to power, local bodies minister Navjot Sidhu engaged NEERI to find a solution. But after seeing its condition, the scientists gave up. Recently, a team of Tata Projects Limited — which had cleaned Dravyavati River in Jaipur — had sought a report from the municipal corporation on its plan to clean the drain.
Published On : 30-03-2019
Source : Times of India
