Ludhiana, 5 January 2025: Environmentalist and MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal has set up a camp along the Budha River to combat years of unchecked pollution, marking a significant step toward restoring the river’s health.
Working with a team of kar sevaks, Seechewal has launched a comprehensive cleanup effort, redirecting untreated wastewater into pipelines for treatment and taking on a decades-old environmental challenge.
This New Year initiative has seen Seechewal and his team working day and night under harsh winter conditions, with temporary measures already in place to reduce pollution entering the river. The campaign symbolizes a renewed hope for reviving the Budha River’s sanctity and ensuring its cleanliness.
The initiative began on December 22, 2024, when Seechewal canceled a scheduled foreign tour and set up a permanent camp on the riverbank. Temporary measures were implemented to redirect polluted water from the river into pipelines for treatment, reviving stalled work at a pumping station and initiating construction of a well approximately 20-30 feet deep.
Landmark Progress Achieved
Kar seva for the river reached a milestone on December 31, 2024, with the well becoming operational. By January 2, 2025, polluted water that had long been untreated began its journey toward sewage treatment plants (STPs), marking a critical moment in the cleanup process. Sant Seechewal and 60 expert kar sevaks have laid the groundwork for key infrastructure, including a transformer that will facilitate wastewater transportation to the STPs.
Significance of Budha River in Sikhism
The Budha River holds deep significance in Sikhism, much like the revered Kali Bein. Historical sites like Gurdwara Sri Gau Ghat along its banks add to its religious and cultural importance. Years of pollution, however, have stained its legacy, sparking Seechewal’s efforts to restore its sanctity.
Seechewal Stresses Cooperation: Sant Seechewal emphasized the need for collective action, urging communities to contribute to keeping rivers pollution-free. “Our kar seva is not against anyone but is in favor of releasing clean water into the Budha River,” he said, calling for ongoing public participation.
A team of 15 officials from the Central Government’s water body protection committee visited the site on January 4, 2025, lauding Seechewal’s initiative as exemplary.
Despite the cold and unpleasant surroundings, kar sevaks stayed on the riverbanks, even celebrating the New Year amidst their ongoing mission. Seechewal has established a tented night shelter on-site, demonstrating his commitment to the cause.
The efforts at the Budha River signal a hopeful chapter in addressing pollution, with Sant Seechewal’s dedication inspiring communities to envision cleaner, healthier rivers across the country.
