Complaint filed with National Human Rights Commission on pollution of Budha Nallah in Ludhiana
Babushahi Network
New Delhi/Ludhiana, December 17, 2025: An RTI activist Kirti Rawal resident of Ludhiana has filed a complaint with National Human Rights Commission on pollution of Budha Nallah detailing how encroachments have been made on it and how funds for its cleaning have been allegedly siphoned off.
Read complete complaint copy below:
To
The Hon’ble Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
New Delhi
Subject: Urgent request for intervention to prevent indirect mass human casualty caused by toxic chemical-laden water flowing through the 14-kilometre stretch of Buddha Nallah in Ludhiana
Hon’ble Sir,
I, Kimti Rawal, an RTI Activist, resident of House No. B-34-2340, Chandra Nagar, Ludhiana, wish to bring to your notice that the Punjab Government had sanctioned funds in 2021–2022 for the cleaning and rejuvenation of Buddha Nallah in Ludhiana. In 2022, the responsibility for this work was handed over to Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, who was then nominated as a Rajya Sabha MP by the Aam Aadmi Party.
The project included construction of new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), upgradation of old STPs, and development of essential infrastructure to prevent pollution in the Nallah so that the water could be treated before entering the Sutlej River. This project was launched under the AMRUT and Smart City Mission with contributions from both the State Government (approximately ₹392 crore) and the Central Government (₹258 crore). However, the project’s budget has now been escalated further.
Sir, the situation has severely deteriorated. The Punjab Government has come under the complete influence of the mafia, and the allotted funds have largely been wasted on superficial beautification of Buddha Nallah. The condition of the Nallah has gone from bad to worse. Corrupt officials of Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, in collusion with ruling party MLAs and a powerful land-mafia network, have carried out large-scale illegal encroachments along the banks of Buddha Nallah.
As per the Punjab Irrigation Department, the original width of the Nallah was 58 feet, but it has been illegally reduced to 30 feet, and in some areas even 20 feet. The Irrigation Department has already written to the Municipal Commissioner, Ludhiana, expressing serious concern over this matter. After reducing the width, the depth of the Nallah has been doubled, causing underground drinking-water sources to become poisonous, and we are being forced to consume this contaminated water. A copy of the letter and photographs of the foundation stones are attached herewith.
Sir, the Punjab Government’s wrongdoing does not stop here. The toxic chemicals being discharged into Buddha Nallah by various dyeing industries, dairies, other industrial units, and through the sewage system—under the influence of the administration, ruling party networks, and mafias—have brought nearly 3 lakh residents of the city to the brink of death. People are suffering from life-threatening diseases, selling their homes and belongings to pay for treatment, while many are dying without medical care. The hazardous chemical-laden water from Buddha Nallah has not only destroyed the Malwa region of Punjab but has also contaminated vast areas of Rajasthan. This is a grave case of collective destruction of humanity, which the Punjab Government is ignoring while pushing us towards death.
I am myself a victim. I was born in 1968 in an area located less than one kilometre from Buddha Nallah. At that time, it was known as Buddha Dariya, a clean water stream where people bathed. I have been fighting against its deterioration for the last 20 years, but today we are forced to consume poisonous underground water due to the large number of tube wells and submersible pumps installed by Ludhiana Municipal Corporation for drinking-water supply. This contaminated water has caused cancer, heart diseases, kidney failure, and several fatal illnesses among the residents of my locality, leading to a rising death rate. Not once have the water samples from our area met the required standards. I am enclosing the report of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, Ludhiana, which I obtained through RTI, as evidence.
Now the decision lies with you, Sir. How soon will you act to stop this collective destruction of humanity being perpetrated by the Punjab Government and save us from dying a slow and painful death? There is no justice in Punjab. Corruption is at its peak. I have no option left but to repeatedly seek justice from your esteemed Commission. What else can I do? I cannot close my eyes to wrongdoing — my nature does not allow it.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Kimti Rawal
Mobile: 9888703636