Cow dung disposal in Buddha Nullah: MC chief, Gogi meet dairy farmers

Ludhiana: With an aim to reduce pollution in the Buddha Nullah and to find a unanimous solution for cow dung disposal, the Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) commissioner Dr Shena Aggarwal on Monday conducted a meeting with dairy farmers at MC’s zone D office. Dairy farmers from both the dairy complexes — Haibowal and Tajpur road, were invited to the meeting, and were directed to find a unanimous solution to avoid action by the civic body. Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi also joined the meeting, and asked the dairy farmers and officials to take required steps for dealing with cow dung generated from these dairies.
Officials and experts from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Gadvasu), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB), Punjab Energy Development Agency (Peda), animal husbandry department and other departments were also present in the meeting. Discussions were held on different proposals, including the industrial use of cow dung as fuel, preparing compost out of cow dung for use in the farms, etc.
During the meeting, Dr Aggarwal said, “A biogas plant is operational in Haibowal dairy complex where biogas is made of cow dung. Two more biogas plants are being established, one each in Haibowal and Tajpur road dairy complexes, to deal with the cow dung. Today’s meeting has been conducted with with an aim to find a temporary solution for the issue till the time the two biogas plants are being established by the Peda.”
She also warned that if dairy owners continue to dispose of cow dung into the MC sewer lines and the Buddha Nullah, strict action will be taken against the violators, as dumping cow dung in sewer lines disrupts the functioning of the sewage treatment plants (STPs).
There are around 700 dairies in Ludhiana — 153 dairy units on Tajpur road, 350 on Hambran road, and another 197 dairies scattered across the city. There are around 70,000 cattle in these dairies, and waste from these units is going directly into the Buddha Nullah.