| File Note: |
The report/ recommendations sent by the RO in the case has been examined and it was noted that the RO has reported that the project has not provided adequate disposal for the excess treated wastewater and proposing the entire excess treated wastewater (@ 2 KLD) for sprinkling along road side, which is not sufficient during rainy and winter season.
In this regard, it is brought out that the project proponent has proposed disposal of the surplus treated effluent (approx. 2 KLD) through sprinkling for dust suppression, by citing the directions of the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal dated 03.12.2020 in O.A. No. 283/2020. It is clarified that the said NGT order is specifically applicable to Municipal Corporations/Urban Local Bodies for mitigation of ambient air pollution through systematic sprinkling of treated STP water on public road networks and pavements prior to mechanized sweeping, being an institutional measure contemplated under GRAP/NCAP frameworks. The Tribunal has expressly directed that “all Municipal Corporations/Local Bodies… ensure sprinkling of water before sweeping of roads, using treated water from STPs” and submit quarterly reports through the State AQMC mechanism. Thus, the operative directions are addressed to road-owning public agencies and not to individual industrial or commercial establishments. Further, sprinkling for dust suppression is inherently seasonal and intermittent, and cannot be treated as a reliable and continuous effluent disposal route, particularly during monsoon/rainy periods when dust suppression is neither required nor operationally feasible. Accordingly, disposal of treated effluent through such ad-hoc sprinkling cannot be considered a tenable, permanent or compliant mode of effluent management under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
In consideration of the above and the report/ recommendations of RO; if approved, the competent authority be recommended that the application of the project proponent for Consent to Establish (NOC) under the Water Act, 1974 & the Air Act, 1981, be refused as the effluent disposal proposal is not adequate/ appropriate.
Comp.: SEE, ZP-1 |
