Dyers to move NGT on discharge by electroplating units

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 22

Persistently being held responsible for polluting the Buddha Nullah, the Punjab Dyers Association have decided to move the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the untreated water released into the MC sewerage by the electroplating industry. The association members rued that the pollutants were discharged by all, including electroplating units, dairy owners and domestic users but the dyeing industry remained at the receiving end.

Talking to The Tribune, Bobby Jindal, director, Punjab Dyers Association, said that each time the issue was raised, only the dyeing industry was blamed.

Jindal said that, small and big, there were a total of 3,300 electroplating units in Ludhiana, peppered around the city. As per norms, the electroplating units must send the untreated water to a particular CETP for treatment before effluents are discharged into the MC sewerage. The unit must collect the untreated water underground and then send it to a CETP for treatment in tankers.

“Do you think the entire electroplating industry collects untreated water in underground tanks and the lifting agency carries all the untreated water for treatment? This lone treatment plant is of 4 MLD where about one MLD comes from all over the state. Just 10 per cent of the water of electroplating industry reaches the plant. Where does the remainder go? The authorities seem to be turning a blind eye,” asked Jindal.

Association president Kamal Chauhan said that pollution in the Nullah was a serious issue and all wanted a resolution of the same to save human lives, however, solely blaming the dyeing units was not justified. “We are moving the NGT on the issue so that pollution levels by electroplating industry can also be checked,” said Chauhan.