States » NorthPosted at: Oct 24 2026 11:03PM


‘Seek central probe into Buddha Nullah scam’: Bittu tells Seechewal

Chandigarh, Oct 24 (UNI) union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Saturday urged Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an investigation by a central agency into an alleged scam involving the Buddha Nullah rejuvenation project in Ludhiana, after the MP publicly questioned his own party's government over its failure to curb pollution.
Bittu's remarks came after Seechewal expressed serious dissatisfaction with the functioning of the Punjab government and its officials, questioning why the heavily polluted water body remained contaminated despite years of efforts and substantial public expenditure.
"Sant Seechewal Ji, if the Mann government is not listening to you, the time has come for you to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand an investigation into this Buddha Nullah scam by a central agency," Bittu said in a post on X.
"It is extremely important to expose those responsible for looting the money of Punjab's people and poisoning the Sutlej," he added.
Bittu's allegations of financial wrongdoing have not been independently established, and no findings from a central investigation were cited in his statement.
The controversy intensified during the 46th review meeting of the Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation Project, where Seechewal questioned the failure of departments responsible for preventing untreated sewage, industrial effluents and dairy waste from entering the water body.
The AAP parliamentarian, who has been actively involved in monitoring the rejuvenation project, reportedly expressed frustration over the lack of visible improvement despite repeated meetings, official assurances, and enforcement measures.
During inspections of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and effluent treatment plants (ETPs), Seechewal had identified shortcomings in their functioning, raising questions about regulatory monitoring and the accountability of officials.
The nearly Rs 800 crore reportedly spent on pollution-control and rejuvenation initiatives has also come under scrutiny, with the continuing contamination raising concerns about whether the investment has delivered the intended results.
The pollution problem extends beyond treatment plants, with dairy waste from the Tajpur Road and Haibowal clusters and untreated industrial discharge continuing to pose challenges.
Seechewal has repeatedly called for stricter enforcement against violators and effective implementation of decisions taken during review meetings.
His criticism is politically significant as it comes from within the ruling AAP, which has repeatedly pledged to restore the polluted waterway.
The issue has also highlighted the environmental consequences of polluted water flowing from Ludhiana towards the Sutlej, raising concerns about water quality and public health in downstream areas.
Bittu's intervention has added a political dimension to the controversy, with the BJP leader calling for central scrutiny of the expenditure and alleged irregularities rather than relying solely on the state administration.
The allegations have not been substantiated by an independent inquiry, and the Punjab government's response to Bittu's latest demand was not immediately available.
The latest confrontation has brought renewed attention to the effectiveness of the Buddha Nullah rejuvenation project and the accountability of authorities responsible for restoring one of Ludhiana's most polluted waterways.
UNI NB BM
Tags: #‘Seek central probe into Buddha Nullah scam’: Bittu tells Seechewal
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