RMN Foundation

‘Kala Pani Morcha’ Protest in Punjab Against Polluted Budha Nala

Since people have no other option but to consume poisonous water, they are suffering and dying with incurable diseases. 

By Rakesh Raman

Environmental activists have given a call to the local residents in Punjab to join their ‘Kala Pani Morcha’ protest in Ludhiana on December 3 against the dyeing units which are dumping poisonous waste into the Budha Nala.

The activists claim that the judicial forums such as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have declared that the polluting factories are adding toxic effluents into the water stream and which must be stopped. 

However, the Punjab Dyers’ Association (PDA) approached the NGT which has asked the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) not to take any “coercive action” against the polluting industries until the next date of hearing on December 2. 

[ Video: ‘ਕਾਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਮੋਰਚਾ’ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ‘ਚ ਦੂਸ਼ਿਤ ਬੁੱਢੇ ਨਾਲੇ ਖਿਲਾਫ 3 December ਨੂੰ Budha Nala ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨ ]

[ Video: दिल्ली की सांसद Swati Maliwal ने दिखाया घरों में जहरीला पानी ]

[ ‘ਕਾਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਮੋਰਚਾ’ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ‘ਚ ਦੂਸ਼ਿਤ ਬੁੱਢੇ ਨਾਲੇ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਰੋਸ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨ ]

It is not only the water which is polluted in the region, but the air quality has also crossed the lethal limits. As a result, deadly diseases are spreading in a large area of Punjab and parts of adjoining Rajasthan. 

While pollution-free air and clean drinking water are human rights, by not stopping air and water pollution, the Punjab Government headed by chief minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann is committing a serious human rights violation.

Previous Report of August 25, 2024

Local residents and environmental activists in Punjab held a big demonstration and organized a protest march on August 24 to get the Budha Nala (old water stream) cleaned and polluted factories removed.

Protesters assert that Budha Nala is a major source of toxic water which is spreading deadly diseases – including cancer – among the people in and around Ludhiana and beyond.

Held under the banner ‘Kala Pani Morcha’ or ‘Black Water Protest’, the agitation is expected to intensify as the protesters claim that the Punjab Government of chief minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann is not taking any action to save the lives of people.

It is stated that the drinking water continues to be contaminated because the industrial units are dumping poisonous waste in the Budha Nala. 

The protesters also raised concerns over the sewage treatment plants (STP) and common effluent treatment plants (CETP) which are not working effectively and said the government has even ignored the directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to address the water pollution issue.

The protesters also allege that the local pollution-control agencies – such as the Punjab Pollution Control Board – are not taking corrective steps because there is rampant corruption in the Punjab Government and the owners of factories that spread pollution bribe the officials to avoid any action.

While Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the fundamental right to clean and healthy living, with its inaction and negligence, the Punjab Government is abusing the basic rights of citizens.

As the Punjab Government has turned a blind eye to the persisting pollution problem, the rivers and groundwater in the state is getting polluted with toxic waste. Since people have no other option but to consume poisonous water, they are suffering and dying with incurable diseases. 

The protesters warned that if the government does not shut down the polluting factories and take concrete steps to stop the pollution of the Sutlej and other rivers within the next two weeks, they will intensify their agitation after September 15. The protest is being supported by different farm unions also.

By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of the humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.