Instead of Deliberating on Buddha Nallah, Govt. Detains Water Activists

When the monsoon session of the Panjab Assembly was announced 2-4 Sep, water activists were looking forward to constructive dialogue on the Buddha Nallah. Ludhiana civil society had recently pulled off a big protest in which people from as far as Rajasthan and Haryana had also participated (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 35, Story 1). On 30 Aug, activists from Kale Paani Da Morcha (Black Waters Front) also submitted a police complaint against officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), demanding the registration of a First Information Report. The activists accused PPCB member secretary Gurindar Singh Majithia, chief environmental engineer Pardeep Gupta, and others of colluding with dyeing industries to allow the illegal discharge of toxic waste into the Buddha Nallah, which flows into the Satluj river. SAD leader Manpreet Singh Ayali even raised the issue. However, the Speaker of the House Kultar Singh Sandhwan responded he was still awaiting the report by the legislative committee formed in 2022 on the Buddha Nallah and did not allow discussion. The next day when some of the activists reached the Assembly to demand a discussion on the issue, they were detained. Ayali once again raised the issue and also talked about the inadequate compensation for land to farmers for highway projects. Similarly, INC MLA Pargat Singh raised the issue of Ram Rahim’s prosecution whose file has been lying with CM Mann for the last two and a half years. The activists criticized the proceedings of the Assembly where no productive discussion was conducted. Even opposition legislators pointed out the short sessions which do not allow meaningful discussion on issues.