Baisakhi dip back at Dariya as MP claims water quality milestone

Ludhiana: For the second consecutive year, devotees will celebrate Baisakhi by taking a traditional dip in the Buddha Dariya at the Bhukhadi and Tajpur Road Sangat Ghats. Environmentalist and AAP Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal, who spearheaded the cleaning drive, confirmed that pollution levels are now under control up to Tajpur Road. Demonstrating the change, Seechewal displayed a glass of crystal-clear water from the drain with a TDS level of 199, a significant drop from previous years. This improvement has also positively impacted nearby village groundwater through recharging.Celebrations will begin on April 9 with a "path" at Gurdwara Gaughat, concluding on April 11, followed by "Kavi Darbars" on April 11 and 14. For many elders, seeing children bathe in the water near Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev—a practice that resumed last year after nearly 40 years—remains a dream-like experience. The banks are now lined with blooming roses and fruiting native plum trees, though Seechewal noted that Punjab's forest cover remains critically low at 6.59%.Zero-Discharge and Dairy Waste ChallengesHowever, the drive enters a challenging new phase. Seechewal asserted that even treated wastewater must be stopped from entering the seasonal drain to declare it truly pollution-free. He has raised this "zero-discharge" requirement with CM Bhagwant Mann, who assured action. Parallel to these efforts, Seechewal recently inspected a temporary "Seechewal Model" pond system at the Haibowal Dairy Complex. This alternative was necessitated by a deadlock between dairy owners and contractors over dung collection points.The MP expressed sharp concern over administrative negligence, noting that Rs 19 crore in public taxes allocated for dung lifting since January remains unutilised. He warned that no payments would be released for the period of inactivity. Currently, cow dung continues to enter the sewer system, causing frequent malfunctions at the three Balloki treatment plants. Despite these systemic hurdles, the villagers are gearing up once again to celebrate the festival by the flowing waters of the revived Buddha Dariya.