The end of pollution in Ludhiana’s Buddha Nullah is not near. The Punjab government feels that it is not possible to immediately implement the recommendations of the National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI) due to financial and logistic problems.

In a meeting held today, Chief Secretary S C Agarwal said it was opined by experts that the financial feasibility would have to be studied before taking any action. “Considering the enormity of the task, it will at least take three years for its complete implementation,” he said.

When asked about the discharge of waste in these years, he said, “We will work out an interim solution.”

He said of the total pollution, 80 per cent was domestic and 20 per cent industrial. And of the 20 per cent, 19 per cent discharge was by textile units and rest was by electroplating units.

He said the problem of electroplating industry has been solved as the seven big units have installed individual treatment plants and use the treated water within the industry. “Hero Cycles is already doing it and others will also be motivated to follow suit,” he added. As for the 450 small electroplating units, with the help of the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC), a common treatment plant has been set up. “Effluent is collected in a truck and transported to the treatment site. The PPCB has been told to conduct checks to curb cheating, as some industries dispatch less effluent to evade paying of charges and release rest untreated,” he said.

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