On 19 Jan, villagers, farmers, and activists under the banner of the Public Action Committee (PAC), along with sarpanches (village leaders) from Rampur, Katana Sahib, and Lal Kalan, staged a yatra (pilgrimage) from Gurdwara Charan Kamal Sahib in Machhiwara through Chamkaur Sahib to Katana Sahib, protesting what they call a ‘highly apathetic attitude’ of the govt. toward the region’s historical forests and sacred waters. According to the protesters, heritage forests at Machhiwara—where the tenth founder of Sikh religion Guru Gobind Singh stopped to rest after leaving the fort at Chamkaur Sahib—are at risk due to rapid expansion projects and questionable priorities that appear to ignore both historical significance and the environment’s well-being. Amid this, Panjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, following a request by Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde for immediate corrective measures, sought a detailed report from CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on the escalating pollution crisis in the river Satluj. Kataria forwarded Bagde’s demi-official letter emphasizing the discharge of toxic industrial chemicals from Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Phagwara, and other areas into Buddha Nullah, which ultimately merges into the river Satluj. Stressing that the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (water resources) also views this issue as requiring multi-departmental action by the Panjab government, Kataria urged CM Mann to explain the severity of pollution, the remedial steps taken so far, and future plans. Concurrently, efforts to curb pollution in the Buddha Nullah have gained traction following a review meeting led by Kataria, with municipal corporation officials unveiling fresh strategies to prevent cow dung from being dumped directly into the drain. Although cow dung is not a severe pollutant due to it being biological waste. The main pollutants leading to illnesses such as cancer are chemical wastes from dyeing industries, which continue undeterred. The National Green Tribunal has so far halted coercive action against common effluent treatment plants that had previously been issued closure notices, awaiting the next hearing set for 20 Feb (WD Vol 2, Issue 51, Story 5).
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