Environmentalist and Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal has proposed dedicating 2026 as a year for river conservation, emphasizing the cultural and historical significance of Punjab's five rivers. He highlighted the deteriorating condition of the Budha Nala and stressed that river pollution poses environmental, climatic, and human health threats. Seechewal urged collective action to revive and protect water resources, viewing rivers as integral to regional identity and heritage.