A massive protest on Tuesday, organized by the Kale Pani Da Morcha and several farm unions, brought traffic to a standstill for over eight hours on National Highway-95 near the Verka Milk Plant, Ferozepur Road. The protesters were demanding the closure of outlets from the Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP), accusing them of polluting the Buddha Nullah and causing environmental degradation. The protest also highlighted the government’s failure to address the issue despite repeated calls for action.
The disruption began around noon when protesters blocked the national highway and surrounding routes, including access to Nanaksar Gurudwara and the Octroi Post. Traffic on these roads, which are crucial for commuting in and out of Ludhiana, was severely affected. The situation worsened in the afternoon when protesters obstructed slip roads leading to elevated bridges, further restricting movement and leaving commuters stranded for hours. Emergency vehicles, including ambulances, were caught in the traffic jam, causing widespread frustration among those stuck.
Ramandeep Singh, a commuter, expressed his anger, saying, “The situation was chaotic, with ambulances and other vehicles unable to move for hours. The authorities should have planned alternative routes if they knew about the protest in advance.”
The protest intensified as some demonstrators reached the Tajpur Road CETP plants, raising slogans and blocking the road for a few hours. At several locations, police had to block off roads and set up diversions in an attempt to manage the situation.
Amitoj Mann, an activist leading the protest after several leaders were detained, accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of shielding polluting industrial units instead of taking action. “The government is ignoring the voices of the people who are calling for an end to this pollution. Instead of protecting the environment, they are protecting the factories that are causing this harm,” he said during the protest.
One protester remarked, “The city resembles a police cantonment today. Barricades, water cannons, and checkpoints were set up to suppress our peaceful protest. This is an attack on environmental justice.”
As the protest wore on, a resolution was reached when the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) agreed to shut down a 15 MLD CETP plant within two days. Regarding two other CETP plants, which were allegedly operating under a stay order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the state administration promised a review within seven days. The additional deputy commissioner (general), Amarjit Singh Bains, confirmed the agreement and assured that action would be taken promptly.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jaskiran Singh Teja stated, “While the protest caused significant disruption, we managed to divert traffic by late evening, and the protest was called off after a successful agreement was reached with the administration.”
By late evening, traffic in the city had returned to normal, but the incident raised questions about the preparedness of the local administration in handling large-scale protests. Commuters and residents alike expressed concerns about the lack of alternative routes and the extended duration of the traffic disruption.
This protest is part of ongoing efforts to address environmental concerns surrounding the CETP outlets and the pollution of Buddha Nullah, with residents and activists urging the government to prioritize action before the situation worsens further.
Sources By Agencies
