Drop in industrial waste, Budha Nullah still dirty

Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, April 24

While the water quality in most water bodies of the state has shown considerable improvement during the lockdown period, the Sutlej river has not shown much improvement downstream of Budha Nullah, says a study undertaken by the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

‘Cleanest river’ Beas improves further

The water quality of the already “cleanest river of Punjab” has shown further improvement with “almost zero discharge of effluent” into the Beas. The river quality is being monitored at 10 locations, from Talwara to Harike.

The presence of heavy metals and pollutants as well as decreased flow due to less discharge from the dam are the main reasons for the poor water quality of Budha Nullah.

“The water pollution is high in Budha Nullah for the past many years and a drop in discharge of chemicals from Ludhiana industrial units during the lockdown has not made any major difference to the already poor quality of water in the nullah,” said PPCB member secretary Krunesh Garg. The oxygen level, however, has improved during the lockdown period.

Budha Nullah remains a cause for concern for the PPCB, which monitors the Sutlej starting from upstream Nangal to downstream Hussainiwala under the National Water Monitoring Programme on a monthly basis.

“Currently, only domestic wastewater is flowing into Budha Nullah, which carries wastewater of Ludhiana city. Due to the lockdown, no industrial waste is being discharged. Accordingly, the flow in Budha Nullah has decreased from 600 million litres a day to 475,” said PPCB chairman SS Marwaha.