Jaipur: Environmental activists under the banner of ‘Kale Pani Da Morcha’ Thursday staged a protest at the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) headquarters, demanding immediate implementation of National Green Tribunal‘s (NGT) and statutory orders to stop untreated industrial discharge into Buddha Dariya, a seasonal river. The issue has implications also for Rajasthan, as polluted water from Punjab enters canal systems supplying drinking and irrigation water here.For over a year, residents of Punjab and Rajasthan have demanded enforcement of orders against three dyeing common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) in Ludhiana—of capacities 15, 40 and 50 million litres per day—which repeatedly violated environmental clearance (EC) conditions. Green activists claimed inspections by PPCB, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Union ministry of environment, and directives of NGT had established that these CETPs continued to illegally discharge untreated effluents into Buddha Dariya.“The polluted water flows into Sutlej River and subsequently enters Rajasthan through Indira Gandhi Canal Project, Sirhind Feeder and Bikaner Canal, impacting districts such as Sriganganagar, Bikaner and Hanumangarh. Rajasthan govt urged Punjab on multiple occasions to ensure that only treated water is released into the river system to protect the canal network, which is a lifeline for drinking water and agriculture in the arid state. But nothing has been done so far,” said a protester.On Dec 3, following a peaceful mobilisation, Kale Pani Da Morcha submitted a detailed memorandum to PPCB documenting inspections, violations, Section 33-A orders of PPCB, and repeated NGT directions, including contempt proceedings. PPCB assured a response by Jan 8, prompting activists to return to the board’s headquarters.Thursday’s meeting with PPCB officials took place amid heavy police deployment, at barricades placed about 100 metres away from the PPCB office. Activists were not allowed to approach the premises. Senior PPCB engineer Kuldip Singh stated that the NGT order dated Dec 9, 2024, to stop discharge into Buddha Dariya was not implemented as the matter was “sub judice” due to applications filed by Punjab Agro Chemicals (PAC).Activists countered that the applications were execution petitions filed in July 2025 precisely because PPCB failed to implement earlier NGT orders. They termed the explanation “legally indefensible”, arguing that interim court orders remain binding unless stayed.Minutes of a recent hearing at the Union ministry of environment further revealed that while violations of ECs were acknowledged, enforcement was deferred. “No interim restraint was imposed and no timelines were fixed, allowing pollution to continue unabated,” said a green activist.
