‘Show me results, not tenders’: Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria slams pollution control board over Buddha Dariya clean-up delay. | Ludhiana News – The Times of India

Ludhiana: Expressing displeasure over “never-ending deadlines”, Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria pulled up administrative officials on Saturday for the lack of progress in the Buddha Dariya rejuvenation project. During his visit to the city, the governor highlighted that the effluent treatment plant (ETP) at the Tajpur Road dairy complex remains non-functional, mirroring the same poor condition he observed during his inspection last year.The governor’s frustration peaked over the proposed bio-CNG plant at Tajpur Road. He noted that in every review meeting, officials offer the same assurance that a plant is coming to solve the cow dung crisis, yet no ground progress is visible. Kataria issued a stern ultimatum: if dairy farmers refuse to comply with environmental instructions, the authorities must move to close the farms and even confiscate the cattle.The day began with a site inspection at Sangat Ghat on Tajpur Road, where governor Kataria, accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, mayor Inderjit Kaur, and MC commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta, took a boat ride to assess the water quality. The Ghat was notably established under the Kar Sewa initiative led by Seechewal.Later, at a high-level meeting at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), MP Seechewal proposed that a 4.5-km separate pipeline be laid to ensure treated water does not enter the drain until after Gurudwara Gaughat. He also emphasised the need for proper demarcation of the Dariya’s banks and the immediate removal of encroachments.While governor Kataria acknowledged that some progress is visible, he directed the sewerage board, soil conservation department, and PPCB to “tighten the noose” on industrial and dairy violators. Citing the Dariya’s historical and religious importance, he pledged to continue monitoring the project regularly and appealed to citizens for their support in saving the water body.Box: Officials admit grim realityCurrently, officials admit that 50% of the cow dung generated at the Tajpur Road complex is still being discharged directly into the drain. The governor also criticised the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) for inadequate monitoring, stating that the board should maintain data on total dissolved solids (TDS) levels for every kilometer of the drain to track pollution accurately.