| File Note: |
It is submitted that the subject cited establishment is an educational institute of proposed capacity of 950 students upto 10+2 level. The school was established in April, 2020 without obtaining NOC of the Board.
The institute is situated in the mixed land use area of draft master plan of Nabha and has obtained CLU from Deptt. of Town and Country, Planning, Punjab vide letter no. 3730 dated 04/12/2018 for total land having area 3.957 acres for school purpose with terms and conditions mentioned therein. The institute has completed the building of the school having total built up area 3151 sqm approximately.
The institute has submitted copy of approved building from the Chief Town Planner, Punjab for school purpose.
Further, as per the record file, the educational institute was visited by officers of the Regional Office, Patiala on 07.11.2023. During visit, it was observed as under: -
1. The establishment is a school having student strength around 800-900 persons, which was found in operation.
2. The institute is also having a population of teachers, staff, drivers etc. around 50-80 persons.
3. The institute has provided tube well as source of fresh water, which is not equipped with any flow meter, so as to adjudge the quantity of fresh water used per day.
4. The institute has installed 1 no. DG set of capacity 250 KVA, which is equipped with canopy with stack of in-adequate height.
5. The institute has also provided washing area for washing of school buses and vans.
6. The institute has provided a STP of unknown capacity for treatment of waste water to be generated from the domestic source as well as from washing of buses/vans.
7. During visit, the STP installed by the institute was found in the defunct condition and the physical condition of the same shows that as same has not been operated since long.
8. No water meter has been installed on the inlet or outlet of the STP.
9. No plantation area as per Karnal technology has been developed within the premises.
10. The representative of the school informed that the entire waste water is being discharged outside the premises by using moveable tankers only.
11. No pipeline provided from collection tank to plantation area. The representative informed that the effluent from the collection tanks is being disposed off outside its premises using movable tankers.
12. A lot of plastic waste was also found dumped near the STP plant.
Hence, the institute is violating the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and was issued show cause notice for violation of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide Board's letter no. 9089 dated 29/11/2023 to reply within 10 days. However, no reply has been received from the institute to the Board in this regard.
The institute was again visited by the officers of the Regional Office, Patiala on 08.02.2024 and it was found that the institute is in the process of installing new STP plant for treatment of its domestic effluent and therefore has not yet complied with the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Therefore, another show cause notice for violations of the provisions of the u/s 25 of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and u/s 21 of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 was issued to the industry vide Board's letter no. 1043 Dated 22/05/2024 alongwith personal hearing before the Senior Environmental Engineer (ZP-I) of the Board in his office at Vatavaran Bhawan, Nabha Road, Patiala on 06/06/2024.
The representative of the project proponent attended the hearing and informed that it has already commissioned the STP and flow meters have also been provided. The treated water is being utilized onto green belt developed within the premises. He further informed that they are in process to apply for consent to operate under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. They assured to comply with the Environmental norms in future. After hearing the officer of the Board, it was decided as under: -
1. The project proponent shall apply for obtaining consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, within 07 days.
2. The project proponent shall operate its STP regularly & efficiently and to achieve the prescribed as laid down by the PPCB/CPCB.
3. The project proponent shall develop adequate plantation area for disposal of treated wastewater within its premises, immediately.
4. The project proponent shall comply with the SWM Rules, 2016 in true letter and spirit.
5. Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Patiala shall visit the establishment, verify the decisions of the personal hearing, process the consent applications to be applied by the project proponent, collect the samples and submit its report, within one month.
6. Further action shall be taken after the report from the Regional Office, Patiala. If approved, proceedings may be conveyed to the industry as well as Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Patiala for compliance.
The proceedings were conveyed to the institute vide Board's letter no. 1551 dated 24.06.2024
Now, the institute has applied for obtaining fresh consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 for obtaining fresh consents to operate under the Water Act, 1974 and under the Air Act, 1981 with requisite documents.
Accordingly, the site of the institute was visited by the AEE of this office on 01.07.2024 and observed as under:
1. The establishment is an educational institute of capacity 950 students and staff etc. At present, only 60 students have been enrolled.
2. The STP of capacity 90 KLD was in operation at the time of visit and having following component for consist of Bar Screen Collection Tank Primary Clarifier Aeration Tank Sec Clarifier Treated Water Collection Tank Sludge Drying Beds.
3. The building of the school is complete having 3 floors (ground + first + second) total no. of room is 40. However, the second floor is not operational at present.
4. The institute has installed 2 no. of D.G. sets of capacity 125 KVA and 92 KVA, which are provided with canopy and stack of adequate height.
5. The institute has installed 1 tubewell for fresh water supply.
6. The institute has total no. of 23 buses. The representative of the institute informed that they will get their buses washes / services from local dealers / outside the premises.
7. The institute is discharging all of its wastewater onto land for plantation after treatment through STP. The institute has developed new plantation area as per Karnal technology and has also provided 2.5 acres approx green area for playground and gardening purpose.
8. The institute has 2 no. of rain water harvesting pits within its premises.
9. No hostel and canteen is provided in the premises, hence no generation of waste food. However, the other waste like plastic and organic material is disposed off for recycling through local scavengers.
10. During visit, the effluent sample from the STP were collected and sent to Head Office for analysis. The results are awaited.
Further, as per the CLU, the site is suitable for establishment of educational institute and the same is now found complying with the decisions of the personal hearing.
In view of above mentioned facts, may if approved, recommendations be sent to SEE, ZO-1, Patiala that the fresh consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 may be granted to the institute upto 30.09.2030 with suitable conditions as per the policy of the Board. |
