Ludhiana: Chief minister Bhagwant Mann has directed the Ludhiana deputy commissioner to take legal action against dairy units violating waste disposal norms, following a high-level meeting, on Saturday. The move comes as the Tajpur Road dairy complex remains buried under cow dung and sewage, despite a Rs 22-crore tender specifically assigned to a private firm for waste lifting four months ago.Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal flagged the issue during the meeting, noting that dairy waste continues to be discharged into the Buddha Dariya and local sewers. While the Haibowal dairy complex has seen some lifting activity and access to a compressed biogas plant, the Tajpur Road complex lacks both, leaving streets filled with heaps of dung.Dairy association members claim the filth has made lanes impassable for trucks carrying cattle fodder, yet they accuse officials of failing to functionalise effluent treatment plants. They also noted that while direct discharge points to the water body have been closed, no viable alternative has been provided, leading to severe waterlogging in the complex.Municipal corporation officials, however, blame the farmers for the deadlock. A senior official stated that farmers refused to cooperate even after a contractor agreed to provide carts for moving dung outside their premises. The civic body has already begun snapping power connections of 16 illegal units and has warned that further legal action is the only remaining option.
