Context

• The Punjab govt. has approved ₹650 crore in the first phase for rejuvenation of the highly polluting Buddah Nullah — a seasonal tributary of Sutlej in Ludhiana.

About Buddah Nullah

• Buddah Nullah or Budha Nala is a seasonal water stream that runs through the Malwa region of Punjab.
• It passes through highly populated Ludhiana and drains into Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus river.
• It has also become a major source of pollution in the region as well the main Sutlej river, as it gets polluted after entering the highly populated and industrialized Ludhiana city, turning it into an open drain.
• Also, since a large area in south-western Punjab solely depend on the canal water for irrigation, and water from Buddha Nullah enters various canals after Harike waterworks.

The pollution in the Buddah Nullah

• The pollution in the Buddah Nullah is a major threat to public health and environment and the main sources of pollution in the nullah are direct flow of pollutants by industries and dairies.
• Also, treated effluents from existing STPs, based on UASB technology, does not meet the required quality and overflow from sewer lines add to the problem.
• The NGT has already directed the government to take proactive steps to immediately address the problem.

Source:TH