Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal is a prominent environmental activist and Member of Parliament from Punjab, India. Known for his environmental conservation efforts, particularly around river cleaning, he has garnered both praise and criticism for his work. While many laud his contributions to environmental causes, there are concerns about the gap between his public declarations and actual impact.
Born in Punjab, Balbir Singh Seechewal established himself first as a religious leader before becoming known for his environmental activism. His spiritual background contributed to his approach toward environmental conservation, which he frames as a religious duty. He rose to prominence through his work with the “Kar Sewa” movement, which combines community service with Sikh religious principles.
Seechewal gained recognition for his efforts to clean the Kali Bein rivulet, a 160-kilometer-long tributary of the Beas River with religious significance for Sikhs. Using community mobilization, he led volunteers to manually clean the river, remove water hyacinth, and create riverbank infrastructure. This project became his signature achievement and was praised by the United Nations and various environmental organizations.
Following this success, he expanded his environmental activism to other waterways in Punjab, advocating for sustainable water management practices and raising awareness about water pollution issues in the state.
His environmental work eventually led him to politics, where he was elected as a Member of Parliament. His campaign focused heavily on environmental issues, promising to address Punjab’s severe water pollution problems and implement sustainable solutions across the state.
One of the most contentious aspects of Seechewal’s work relates to Buddha Nullah (also called Buda Nallah), a highly polluted stream flowing through Ludhiana. This waterway has become a significant health hazard for surrounding communities due to industrial waste and untreated sewage.
Despite Seechewal’s public statements claiming improvement and even referring to the water as becoming “pious,” ground reports suggest the waterway remains heavily polluted. Critics point to this discrepancy as evidence of prioritizing publicity over substantive environmental remediation. Water quality tests continue to show dangerous levels of contaminants, contradicting claims of significant improvement.
Environmental experts acknowledge Seechewal’s contribution to raising awareness but question the sustainability and scientific approach of some of his initiatives. While his community mobilization skills are impressive, critics suggest his work sometimes lacks the technical foundation necessary for lasting environmental remediation.
Some observers note a pattern of grand announcements followed by limited implementation, with media events and photo opportunities sometimes taking precedence over comprehensive, long-term solutions to complex environmental challenges.
Despite the criticisms, Seechewal remains an important figure in India’s environmental movement. His ability to mobilize communities around environmental causes has inspired similar initiatives across the country. His work represents the power of community-based approaches to environmental problems, even as questions remain about the long-term impact and sustainability of some of his projects.
As an MP, he now faces the challenge of translating his grassroots experience into effective policy-making that can address Punjab’s serious environmental challenges at a systemic level, moving beyond symbolic actions to create lasting change.