‘Kale pani da morcha’: Activists protest against pollution in Ludhiana's Buddha Nullah, demand action

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 24

Under the banner ‘Kale pani da morcha’, thousands of people from Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Abohar, Fazilka, Rajasthan, etc. gathered near Verka milk plant here to save Buddha Nullah.

Many environmentalists, social organisations, celebrities and farmers were part of the rally today, which started from Verka Point and moved towards Bhai Bala Chowk.

Long queues of vehicles, including two-wheelers and four-wheelers, trucks and trolleys were witnessed near the Verka milk plant around 12:15pm. One side of the Ferozepur Road was stopped for vehicular traffic and there was a jam till Aggar Nagar. The residents and commuters had to face inconvenience due to movement of traffic at a snail’s pace.

The members of ‘Kale pani da morcha’ maintained that water is a fundamental necessity of life. The Constitution of India grants every citizen the right to life, which encompasses the right to clean water and air. For the past four decades, Punjab’s rivers and groundwater have been contaminated with toxic effluents. As a result, the people of Punjab are forced to consume poisonous water, leading to spread of cancer, hepatitis C and numerous other serious illnesses. This is a calculated act of genocide against Punjab, made possible by the government’s deliberate negligence.

The political party currently governing Punjab repeatedly raised the issue on a large scale before coming to power, making their silence now both surprising and unfortunate. The people of Punjab demand freedom from this toxic black water. They demonstrated today that they will achieve this freedom whether the government takes action or people take it themselves, said the organisers.

Jaskirat Singh from Naroa said that till date, the government has neither taken firm action against the industries polluting water nor addressed the corrupt officials within Punjab Pollution Board. If the government fails to shut down the illegal industries and take concrete steps to halt the pollution of the Sutlej and other rivers within the next two weeks, there will be no choice but to proceed with the previously announced action on September 15. The full responsibility for the consequences will rest with the Punjab Government.

The team, in consultation with all supporting organisations, will plan the next course of action accordingly, said Singh.