Ludhiana: In a significant move to rejuvenate the Buddha Dariya and protect the Satluj from contamination, Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal is set to implement his namesake “Seechewal Model” in three additional villages.
The project targets Baranhara, Talwara, and Gaunspur, aiming to intercept the direct discharge of raw, untreated sewage into the drain’s downstream sections. The initiative marks an expansion of the ecological project, which has already been successfully established in seven villages upstream. Under this system, instead of flowing into the drain and eventually the Satluj, village wastewater will be treated locally and repurposed for irrigation. The science of three wells The Seechewal model utilises a specialised cyclonic method across three distinct wells to naturally purify wastewater.
As raw sewage enters the first well, the water undergoes a settling process where silt and heavy sediments are removed. The design of the second well traps floating debris, oil, and grease, preventing them from moving forward. In the third well, water undergoes a final settling phase, emerging significantly cleaner before entering a large storage pond.
Natural purification & agricultural benefit Once in the pond, the water is subjected to aerobic action. Sunlight facilitates the growth of beneficial bacteria, which eliminates remaining impurities and neutralises foul odours. The final stage involves a motor-driven distribution system that pumps the nutrient-rich, treated water directly to agricultural fields. Balbir Singh Seechewal emphasised that the model serves a dual purpose: it conserves rapidly depleting groundwater and reduces the farmers’ reliance on chemical fertilisers.
The MP stated that work in these three villages will be completed as soon as possible to ensure the Buddha Dariya remains free from rural waste discharge. The development comes a day after Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria pulled up administrative officials on Saturday for the lack of progress in the Buddha Dariya rejuvenation project. During his visit to the city, the governor highlighted that the effluent treatment plant (ETP) at the Tajpur Road dairy complex remains non-functional, mirroring the same poor condition he observed during his inspection last year.
The governor’s frustration peaked over the proposed bio-CNG plant at Tajpur Road. He noted that in every review meeting, officials offer the same assurance that a plant is coming to solve the cow dung crisis, yet no ground progress is visible. Kataria issued a stern ultimatum: if dairy farmers refuse to comply with environmental instructions, the authorities must move to close the farms and even confiscate the cattle.
Source: https://tinyurl.com/hxjevjc9
