Buddha Nullah: Bittu seeks solution from Union Minister

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 23

With an aim to find a permanent solution to the problems related to around 14-km stretch of Buddha Nullah, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu today met the Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, at his office in Delhi.

Bittu sought the cooperation of the Centre for the project. After the meeting, Bittu said the cleaning of Buddha Nullah was one of his dream projects and he had also made this promise to the people of Ludhiana.

He said Buddha Nullah (earlier known as Budha Dariya) was an old tributary of the Sutlej River and once had more than 50 species of fish, but unfortunately it started losing its glory with the passage of time.

Bittu added that this was his second meeting with the Union Minister in the past three months.

He said the Union Minister was apprised of the recent overflowing of Budha Nullah in Ludhiana, which caused problems for residents.

He also apprised him of the current situation of Dhussi Bundh of Sutlej along the Ludhiana district.

He requested Shekhawat to ensure that this project was handled on priority basis. Bittu said Shekhawat had assured full cooperation and had offered maximum funds for the project.

He said the Union Minister would be visiting the Buddha Nullah site in the first week of September, along with a team of experts from Tata Sons, who have shown interest in the Rs 900 crore project related to cleaning of Buddha Nullah.

He said the same company had cleaned a similar nullah falling in the constituency of the Union Minister.

The company officials claimed that they would not only ensure cleaning of the Buddha Nullah, but also undertake construction of embankments, construction of paths for cyclists and morning/evening walkers, beautification, tree plantation, developing green belt/parks along the nullah and re-use of the water for agriculture and horticulture purposes, Bittu claimed.