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‘Kala Pani Morcha’ Protest Held 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 RMN News Service

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. 

[ ਕੀ ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਬਾਦਲ ਦੀ ਪੰਥਕ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ 2027 ਦੀਆਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਜਿੱਤ ਸਕੇਗੀ? ]

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.