Tajpur Road dairies still dumping cow dung waste into Buddha Dariya: Seechewal

Ludhiana: Despite temporary arrangements made to direct untreated domestic waste to the sewage treatment plant, Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal has expressed concern about cow dung waste flowing into Buddha Dariya through dairy units on Tajpur Road. He has identified 39 pollution points on Tajpur Road, where, he said, untreated water from dairy units was being drained into the Buddha Dariya.
Besides the Tajpur Road dairy complex, waste from Haibowal dairy complex is also flowing into the Buddha Dariya, adding to the pollution in the drain. Although civic officials have repeatedly assured that they are monitoring dairy waste from these complexes, Seechewal said that his inspections reveal a different ground reality.
Effluent treatment plants installed on both locations to treat waste water under the Rs 650 crore Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation project, are non-functional now. The 2.25 MLD ETP on Tajpur Road has also not been connected to all dairy units yet. Moreover, the 300 metric tonne capacity compressed biogas plant, intended to handle cow dung, has not been installed yet, contributing to pollution in the Buddha Dariya.
During a meeting attended by local bodies minister Dr Ravjot Singh on Dec 29, 2024, civic officials claimed that they would manage the cow dung issue, but there's nothing to show for it. Officials from Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board are also troubled by the lack of connection between dairies and both ETPs. They said that the plant was not designed to process cow dung in solid form and only waste water should be directed there.
The Tajpur and Haibowal ETPs, which are of 2.25 MLD and 3.75 MLD capacity respectively, were supposed to have been operational much earlier. However, they were delayed because officials did not make timely decisions.
Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal said, "We checked the dairy complex at Tajpur Road and it is a complete mess. Waste water and cow dung are flowing directly into the Buddha Dariya. Officials of the MC and PPCB have been instructed to take stern action against defaulters."
Dairy units on Haibowal and Tajpur Road, which have more than 25,000 animals, are a major source of pollution. A few units are located on the outskirts of the city while others operate within residential areas. Dairies on the outskirts are allegedly discharging waste directly into the Buddha Dariya, while those within residential areas are sending waste directly to sewer lines and then to sewage treatment plants. STPs are also unable to handle the waste from dairies.
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