Punjab Villagers Protest Treated Wastewater Irrigation Plan, Citing Health Risks and Broken Promises

Residents of 32 villages bordering the polluted Buddha Dariya in Ludhiana, Punjab, are protesting a government plan to use treated wastewater from the dyeing industry for agricultural irrigation. The villagers, who suffer from chronic health issues and shortened lifespans attributed to industrial pollution, fear that the “treated” water will further endanger their health and livelihoods. The protest, organized by the Kale Pani Da Morcha activist group, highlights a long-standing environmental crisis in the region, marked by bureaucratic delays, inadequate enforcement, and a lack of trust in government promises. Villagers point to the 2013 regulations prohibiting even treated wastewater discharge into the Buddha Dariya, yet local dyeing plants are seeking permission to use this water for irrigation. Activists accuse the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) of misleading the public and concealing information, demanding the resignation of senior officials and swift disciplinary action. The situation in Ludhiana underscores the broader environmental challenges facing Punjab, where industrial expansion comes at the cost of the health and livelihoods of local communities.