Ludhiana: With lanes of Tajpur Road dairy complex still caked thick with cow dung, dairy farmers face an uncertain future. Hapless dairy farmers pointed out that the MC had started lifting cow dung only from Haibowal dairy complex, where a bio CNG plant is located, and not from Tajpur Road. They said that in the absence of a plant, they did not know where to send cow dung waste for disposal.High cost, less fodder
They rued that with the area choked with dung, cattle were getting green feed. Besides, they said that workers bringing cattle feed to the dairy complex in trolleys had to park their vehicles outside on the main road and walk on the filthy lanes, because of which they charged more. While they paid Rs 11 for 40kg feed earlier, they now had to shell out Rs 25, they said. Though it is important to provide calcium rich green fodder to cattle this season, the feed, which was brought in trolleys, had to be unloaded on the streets, which were in poor condition, said members of the dairy farmers’ association. They added that repeated requests to authorities had been to no avail. Demand for bio CNG plantAssociation president Lovely Singh said, “Authorities installed effluent treatment plants at both complexes, but they did not bother to ensure installation of a bio CNG plant on Tajpur Road, so that solid cow dung waste could reach the ETP.” According to him, they had raised the issue with several officials but had nothing to show for it. Urging authorities to act, he warned that dairy farmers would stage a protest if nothing was done. A senior MC official said on condition of anonymity, “Haibowal dairy complex was selected as authorities wanted to fix things at one place before starting with the other. So, work will begin here after a few days.”Questions on cow dung liftingRecently, the MC hired an agency to lift cow dung from dairy complexes, on payment of Rs 650 per tonne to the contractor. The charge for lifting garbage from other parts of the city is Rs 425 per tonne. Questions are being raised on why the MC is spending more on lifting of cow dung waste, that too when Haibowal dairy complex already has a bio CNG plant where half of the cow dung reaches.A long waitThe wait for a bio CNG plant on Tajpur Road has spanned over a decade. When the Buddha Dariya rejuvenation project was launched during the tenure of the Congress govt, it was decided to shift dairy complexes outside city limits so that waste from dairies did not reach Buddha Dariya.Eventually, the plan was dropped, and authorities decided to construct ETPs. However, ETPs are not fulfilling their purpose in the absence of bio CNG plants. There is a bio CNG plant in the Haibowal dairy complex and another is proposed, but construction is still awaited. Meanwhile, solid cow dung is reaching the plants, affecting the machinery. Logjam over disposal (2024–2026)Persistent dumping & treatment failuresAs dairy complexes on Tajpur Road and Haibowal struggle with treatment and disposal of cow dung waste, Buddha Dariya is getting polluted. There are complaints of clogged sewers and drains tooand clogging of sewers and drains.ETPs not coping with wasteEffluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) installed under the Buddha Dariya rejuvenation project are unable to handle the influx of solid cow dung and waste water, hindering treatment processes Delays in biogas plant implementationA biogas (bio-CNG) plant at Haibowal is operational but lacks capacity for total waste; a proposed plant at Tajpur Road has been delayed, slowing scientific disposal Sanitation plan Tender for lifting of cow dung for Rs 22.50cr has been allotted to a private firmEnvironmental concerns & public protestsContinued dumping has led to flooding of streets and public health concerns, prompting farmers’ protests and repeated inspections by officialsMSID:: 127935358 413 |
