On 3 Dec, the Kale Pani Da Morcha (Black Waters Front; KPDM) and 23 organizations including some farmer unions, had called to people for a peaceful protest to halt the discharge of effluents from the Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) of dyeing units into the Buddha Nullah. In their email to Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal and Ludhiana Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal, KPDM had said, ‘This has become necessary as the govt. and Punjab Pollution Control Board are not taking any concrete action against polluters beyond issuing orders which remain on paper and are not enforced.’ When people from Panjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana started arriving, the police deployed in large numbers, detained over 150 activists, and stopped many from reaching Verka milk plant, the venue of the protest. Thousands of people assembled and blocked the Ferozepur road. In response, the Punjab Dyers’ Association (PDA) labelled the activists as ‘blackmailers’. The situation at Tajpur Road, which has CETPs outlets, was tense as hundreds of migrant workers and dyeing association members dared activists to close any outlet. The impasse went on until late night when Amitoj Singh Mann, one of the KPDM activists, along with police and officials, addressed media and assured the protestors that the administration has sought one week to close the dyeing units. He also called activist Lakha Sidhana (Lakhvir Singh) to ascertain that though he was in police custody, he was safe. It is ironic that the Panjab AAP govt. led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann—who used to count the horrors of the Buddha Nullah before he was elected—has turned an environment and health issue into a migrant and employment issue (SDW Vol 2, Issue 35, Story 1).
Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories.
Liv Forum provides a digest of analysis on major issues facing Indian (East) Panjab and Sikhs globally.
In accordance with our Privacy Policy, we will never share or sell the information of our subscribers.
