CLEANING OF BUDHA NULLAH: TATA GROUP GIVES PRESENTATION FOR CLEANING BUDHA NULLAH, BEAUTIFYING IT & RE-USE OF ITS WATER

Ludhiana, February 21, 2019: A team of senior officials from Tata Group today showed interest in the cleaning and beautification of Budha Nullah and even gave a presentation in MC Zone D office, here, in this regard. This presentation was given in the presence of Ludhiana MP Mr Ravneet Singh Bittu, Mayor Mr Balkar Singh Sandhu, Senior Deputy Mayor Mr Shyam Sunder Malhotra, MC Commissioner Mrs Kanwal Preet Kaur Brar, councillors Mrs Mamta Ashu, Mr Jai Parkash, besides several others.

During the hour-long presentation, Mr Manish Tripathi, Vice President, Tata Group, stated that their company has been associated with several such projects including rejuvenation of Dravyavati River in Jaipur, besides upcoming project for cleaning and beautification of Badi Nadi and Chhoti Nadi in Patiala. The company officials claimed that they would not only ensure cleaning of the Budha Nullah, besides construction of embankments, construction of paths for cyclists and morning/evening walkers, beautification, tree plantation, developing green belts/parks along the Budha Nullah and re-use of the water for agriculture and horticulture purposes.

While speaking to media persons after the presentation, Mr Ravneet Singh Bittu said that cleaning of around 14-kilometer long stretch of Budha Nullah is one of the foremost projects in his priority. He said that the company has already completed the drone survey of the project and now they have been asked to prepare a formal project report so that it can be discussed further. The company officials have also been asked to prepare a detailed project report, for which the Ludhiana MC would not have to pay anything to the Tata Group.

Mr Bittu said that once the company officials submit the detailed project report on March 10, the other aspects such as costing of the project etc would be discussed. He said that the Punjab government as well as the Ludhiana MC is committed to find a permanent end-to-end solution to this issue and that is why it is working in this direction. He also called upon all city residents, religious organisations, NGOs etc to come forward for the cleaning and beautification of the Budha Nullah.

He said that this project is likely to start soon and once it starts, no person would be allowed to pollute the Budha Nullah. He expected that the project would be completed in next 3-4 years time. He also thanked the Punjab government that has kept Rs 4.38 crore in the Budget for the cleaning of Budha Nullah. He also informed that the capacity of the existing Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Ludhiana is being enhanced under the AMRUT scheme.

Those who attended the presentation also included Col JS Gill, Vice President, Lets Clean Ludhiana Foundation, MC Additional Commissioner Mr Sanyam Aggarwal, MTP Mr Surinder Bindra, besides senior officials from other departments.