| File Note: |
In report/ recommendations sent by RO were perused and it was noted as under:
# The project proponent was granted Consent to operate under the Water (Prevention control of Pollution) Act, 1974 dated 27.07.2021, valid till 30.09.2021 and under Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 dated 20.06.2021, valid till 30.09.2024 for Residential complex consisting of 32 no. 4BHK Flats and 119 no. 3BHK Flats with certain conditions.
# Earlier, the RWA was given personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer (P) of the Board dated 17.07.2023, wherein, it was decided as under:
1) The Residential Welfare Association (RWA) shall apply for consent to operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 with requisite documents within 15-days.
2) The RWA shall operate the STP regularly and efficiently so as to achieve the prescribed treated wastewater standards.
3) The RWA shall install mechanical composter of sufficient capacity for the management of solid waste within one month.
4) The RWA shall submit/ show approved building plans by 19/7/2023 to the O/o Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, SAS Nagar to adjudge the extent of expansion made by the project proponent and coverage of the project in the ambit of EIA notification dated 14/9/2006.
5) Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Regional Office, SAS Nagar shall visit the site of the project immediately, verify the approved plans and send the report especially with regard to coverage of the project in the ambit of EIA notification dated 14/9/2006 after the expansion of the project made by the project proponent with concrete recommendations.
6) On the basis of the report of Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, SAS Nagar, a joint hearing be given to the project proponent/ builder and RWA before the competent Authority under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
# Thereafter, the project was visited by the officer of the Board on 25.08.2025 and contacted Sh. Brij Mohan Sharma. During the visit, it was observed that the RWA was not complying with the decisions of the personal hearing as well as provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
# Accordingly, notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 issued to the project proponent vide Board's letter no. 4522-24 dated 15/09/2025 alongwith an opportunity of personal hearing before the Member Secretary on 23.09.2025.
# The representative of the RWA attended the hearing and submitted written reply which was taken on record. He informed that currently no RWA is operational and he alongwith Head Draftsman & Junior Engineer of MC, Zirakpur are part of a sub-committee formed by Asstt. Municipal Engineer, MC, Zirakpur for handling the affairs of the RWA. He further informed that all the observations pointed out by the visiting officer of the Board have been attended and they are in process of applying for Consents to Operate under the Water Act, 1974 & the Air Act, 1981; which shall be submitted in 15 days.
# After hearing the representatives of the industry, officers of the Board, and material facts on the record, the Member Secretary of the Board decided that: -
1. The project proponent shall apply for obtaining consent to operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 with requisite documents within 15-days.
2. The project proponent shall submit/ show approved building plans to the O/o Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, SAS Nagar to adjudge the extent of expansion made by the project proponent and coverage of the project in the ambit of EIA notification dated 14/9/2006.
3. Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Regional Office, SAS Nagar shall visit the site of the project within 15 days, process the consent applications on merits, verify the approved plans and send the report especially with regard to coverage of the project in the ambit of EIA notification dated 14/9/2006 after the expansion of the project made by the project proponent with concrete recommendations.
4. On the basis of the report of Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, SAS Nagar, a joint hearing be given to the project promoter (builder) and the Association/Sub-Committee shall be convened before the Competent Authority for further decision.
# Now, the project proponent has applied renewal consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for Residential complex consisting of 32 no. 4BHK Flats and 119 no. 3BHK Flats along with requisite documents.
# The site was visited by the officer of RO on 16.12.2025 and during visit it was observed as under:
1. The above site is a group housing project. 152 no. flats has been constructed in 5 towers (Category A & B). 16 no. apartments have been constructed in category C (EWS). As per approved site plan attached completion certificate is also for 168 flats (32 + 120 + 16) and the built-up area of which is mentioned as 211249.14 sft (19,625.67 sqm) which is less than 20,000 sqm, thus the project is not covered under the EIA notification, 2006.
2. The STP was in operation during visit, treated wastewater was being discharged onto green area and MC sewer. Effluent sample was collected from the outlet of STP and sent to HO lab for analysis and the results are awaited.
3. No record of ground water abstracted was reproduced during the visit. Water meter installed at the inlet of STP and outlet of the STP. The project has maintained record of outlet upto 07.12.2025 and inlet upto 10.12.2025. Thereafter, no record was maintained. From the record maintained during the period 01.12.2025 to 07.12.2025 the inlet volume is 105 KL and outlet volume is 144 KL. It is clear from the record maintained that either record is not being maintained properly or wastewater is being bypassed from the STP and being discharged through outlet of STP.
4. The RWA has not provided mechanical composter for the treatment of wet biodegradable solid waste. Only 2 pits have been constructed for the treatment of wet waste adjoining the sludge beds of STP. The pits does not serve the purpose of aerobic decomposition as three insufficient passage of air to the pits. Moreover, the pits constructed for the colony is inadequate considering the persons residing the colony.
5. The RWA has now provided adequate stack height with DG set.
# The RO has concluded that the RWA was not complying with the decisions of the personal hearing as well as provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and recommended that show cause notice for refusal of consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 with an opportunity of personal hearing may be given to
the project promoter (builder) and the Association/Sub-Committee.
In consideration of the report/ recommendations of RO; if approved, the competent authority be recommended that:
A. The applications of the project for renewal of CTOs applied under the Water Act, 1974 & the Air Act, 1981 be refused after affording an opportunity of personal hearing before the competent authority.
B. Notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 be issued to the project alongwith an opportunity of personal hearing, with the following proposed directions:
i) That the project proponent / RWA shall stop forthwith discharging any effluent/ wastewater into sewer/ inland surface water/ onto land or through any other mode.
ii) That the project proponent/ RWA shall not allow any new occupancy and shall not allow any new possession in the premises of the project, with immediate effect.
iii) That the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd. authorities shall be directed not to release electricity supply connection to any plots/ components of the project which remains unsold by the project proponent.
iv) That the revenue authorities shall be directed not to execute or register any registration deed for any plots plots/ components of the project which remains unsold by the project proponent.
v) That an environment compensation of suitable amount be imposed on the project proponent/ RWA.
vi) That DG sets (if any) installed by the project proponent/ RWA shall be sealed.
Comp.: Worthy MS |
