In a roadmap prepared to clean Buddha Nullah under Mission ‘Tandrust Punjab’, dream project of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh aimed at providing clean air, water and safe food to the people, the Environment, School Education, and Freedom Fighters Minister O P Soni on Tuesday held a meeting with the representatives of dyeing units and set a deadline of two-month for them to strictly adhere to the all rules.Presiding over a meeting with the various dyeing units’ associations, Soni said that industry is the backbone of development in the state but Punjab government will not tolerate any kind of environmental pollution on the sake of running industry.Pointing out that either many dyeing units have not installed water treatment plants or plants are not working in their premises hence the industrial effluents and untreated water discharged into Buddha Nullah which is causing serious health ailments.Instructing the officials of Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) present in the meeting, Soni asked them to ensure all dyeing units must follow all the mandatory norms by personally visiting and told to tighten the noose around those units that are discharging their effluents into the Buddha Nullah.He disclosed that Punjab government is committed to starting three Common Effluent Treatment Plants in Ludhiana at the earliest. He said that government has already provided its share of funds but the union government is yet to contribute its share.
However, with the Punjab government’s share and Industrialists’ financial assistance, the maximum part of installation work has been completed, he added.The minister also ordered to constitute a committee for conducting detailed probe over the digging of sand on the locations where plants are being installed.Later talking with media persons, Soni told that the government is giving topmost priority to ensuring the clean environment and leaving no stone unturned to minimizing every type of the pollution in Punjab. He hoped to overhaul the entire system in next six months.The minister also inspected the pollution in Buddha Nullah along with PPCB officials and claimed he will hand over a report to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Earlier, the guard of honour was given to minister by police.Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Punjab Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, MLAs Rakesh Panday, Surinder Kumar Dawar, Sanjay Talwar, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, Senior Deputy Mayor Sham Sunder Malhotra, PPCB Chairman Kahan Singh Pannu, Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal, Police Commissioner Sukhchain Singh Gill, MC Commissioner Jaskiran Singh and PPCB officials.