LUDHIANA: On the occasion of World Sikh Environment Day, MP (Rajya Sabha) Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, MP (Rajya Sabha) Sanjeev Arora and Ludhiana East MLA Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal who is also the Chairman of Vidhan Sabha committee formed for cleaning `Buddha Dariya', on Thursday, planted 1100 saplings of different varieties on the bank of `Buddha Dariya', near Jamalpur STP site.
On the occasion, in an informal interaction with the media persons, Arora highly appreciated Sant Seechewal for taking an initiative to make `Buddha Dariya' free from pollution. He said Sant Seechewal got fame across the world after he got cleaned around 160-km-long stretch of the Kali Bein. He hoped that a day would come when `Buddha Dariya' would be fully clean like Kali Bein with the efforts of Sant Seechewal.
Further, Arora said he is glad to see that efforts being made by the Punjab Government under the chief ministership of Bhagwant Singh Mann and also by Sant Seechewal have started showing results. He was referring to a water sample taken by Sant Seechewal on the spot today. He added the reading of Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) -level was 158 which is satisfactory. He hoped that TDS level would come down further in the future with efforts of making `Buddha Dariya' clean. He said even Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to clean water bodies across the state.
Arora also appreciated Sant Seechewal for starting a plantation drive on banks of `Buddha Dariya'. He said the local residents too have come forward for extending their support, adding that local residents have committed to Sant Seechewal that they would plant 1.25 lakh saplings along `Buddha Dariy’a in a year. He said he was always ready to extend any kind of support to Sant Seechewal in this noble and public welfare cause. He also spoke in detail about importance of trees in protecting environment and human health.
Replying to a question, Arora said there is an utter need of ZLD (zero liquid discharge) by industrial units in the city. He said ZLD is possible only if there are one or two industrial parks in the city. He added he has already taken up this matter with the state government and hoped that something concrete would be done in the future. He added it would be the responsibility of industrial parks to ensure ZLD once these parks are set up.
Replying to questions of the media persons, Sant Seechewal said they are not against any industry. He said they only want that no damage should be caused to water bodies and environment with the industrial pollution. He said the 'Buddha Dariya' would be clean fully after silt in its bed is removed completely and zero industrial discharge is ensured in this water body. He said he is committed to clean 'Buddha Dariya' completely. He thanked Arora and local MLAs for extending their full support for the cause.
Among others, some industrialists and Paramdeep Singh, Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana were also present on the occasion.