Chairman of Punjab Pollution Control Board Visits Bhukhri Khurd

Ludhiana, 9th April: The village of Bhukhri Khurd, located along the banks of Budha Dariya, has become the central focus of activities concerning the cleaning of the river. This afternoon, Adarsh Vij, Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), and G.S. Majithia, Member Secretary, along with other officials from the Board, visited Bhukhri Khurd on a high-level inspection. During the visit, Parminder Kaur Banga, President of NRI Sabha Punjab, appealed to overseas Punjabis to support Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, who is dedicated to cleaning the rivers and streams that are considered the heritage of Punjabis.

She expressed that with the clean water flowing in Budha Dariya near Bhukhri Khurd, aquatic life would also return to the river. PPCB Chairman Adarsh Vij mentioned that it was a major challenge to remove the cow dung from the dairy farms near Bhukhri Khurd, which was previously polluting the river. He highlighted how Sant Seechewal has set an example by managing the cow dung. He further explained that cow dung can be used to produce vermicompost, which helps in enhancing soil fertility. He claimed that this vermicompost, often referred to as "black gold," would reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.

Parminder Kaur Banga, President of NRI Sabha, remarked that the name of Bhukhri Khurd would always be remembered for its significant role in the ongoing service efforts under the leadership of Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal. She mentioned that the major contribution of overseas Punjabis was crucial in setting up the Seechewal model, which is still successfully operational in over 250 villages.

Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, after taking a bath in the clean water flowing through Budha Dariya near Bhukhri Khurd, said that this marked the beginning of the end of pollution in Budha Dariya. The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the water was measured at 156. He assured that in the coming days, clean water would flow all the way to Sangat Ghat. Sant Seechewal also explained that decades-old silt was being removed from the river. The Sarpanch of Bhukhri Khurd, Satpal Singh, invited the community to visit the village for a historical bath on the occasion of Baisakhi.

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The chirping of birds has started along the riverbank. One of the local residents mentioned that with the arrival of clean water in the river, peacocks have begun to visit the area. He added that just two days ago, several peacocks were seen near the riverbank, and today, they were again spotted. Apart from peacocks, other birds searching for food in the water have also made their presence felt, creating a unique scene with their chirping. The children of Bhukhri Khurd can now be seen bathing in the river every afternoon.