| File Note: |
Previous History:
It is submitted that the PSIEC Authorities were issued notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 alongwith an opportunity of personal hearing before the Member Secretary of the Board on 19.12.2025, wherein, it was decided as under:
1) PSIEC shall operate the STP regularly and properly at the site and shall ensure that the treated effluent confirms to the standards laid down by the Board, at all times.
2) PSIEC shall ensure installation of OCEMS at the outlet of STP, within one month.
3) PSIEC shall apply for obtaining consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981, within one month.
4) EE, RO, Patiala shall check the contents of the reply submitted by PSIEC during hearing, carry out visit to the site of STP after one month, check the compliance of the environmental laws at the site and send fresh report in the matter.
Now Applied: Fresh CTOs
The Authority has applied for obtaining fresh consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 for the operation of the STP of capacity 2500 KLD to treat the domestic effluent @ 200 KLD alongwith documents and consent fee.
The Authority has also applied for obtaining fresh consent to operate under the provisions of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for operation of a DG set of capacity 160 KLD through OCMMS; however, the Department of Science, Technology & Environment, Govt. of Punjab vide notification no. STE-STEB010/26/2023-STE4/575621 dated 12/06/2023 has notified the criteria for grant of consents to Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) installed by Department of Local Govt. in the State of Punjab as per which the, the STP, who has installed DG sets in its premises are required to obtain consent to operate under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and has to submit an application on simplified Proforma with a nominal fee and analysis report from approved lab of the Board as stipulated in PPCB office order no. 369 dated 09/09/2013 as applicable for the commercial DG sets.
Accordingly, the application applied by the authority under the provisions of the Air Act, 1981 has been returned with request to submit an application on simplified Proforma through hard file with requisite fee and analysis report from approved lab of the Board as stipulated in PPCB office order no. 369 dated 09/09/2013 as applicable for the commercial DG sets.
Further, as per the Department of Science, Technology & Environment, Govt. of Punjab vide notification no. STE-STEB010/26/2023-STE4/575621 dated 12/06/2023, the consent fee will be charged on the capacity of STP on MLD basis @ Rs. 2500/MLD capacity of STP per annum, with a minimum fee of Rs. 10,000/- per STP per annum.
Accordingly, the authority has deposited the consent fee amounting to Rs. 1,03,051/- vide UTR. No. POD029440487 dated 26.07.2024 under the Water Act, 1981 and Rs. 93,051 vide UTR No. PSIBN52025042561682044 dated 25.04.2025 under the Air Act, 1981. As such, the fee deposited by the authority is adequate upto 30.06.2026 under the Water Act, 1974 after deducting 600% penalty. The date of commissioning has been considered as February 2020 as electric connection date. The excess fee amounting to Rs. 72,766/- is lying pending with the Board after adjusting Rs. 20,285/- towards fee under the Water Act, 1974 from the fee deposited under the Air Act, 1981.
It is pertinent to mention here that the as per capacity of STP, the consent fee becomes Rs. 6,250/- (2500 x 2.5 MLD) per annum, however, as per the notification, a minimum fee of Rs. 10,000/- per STP per annum will be charged. As such, the fee has been calculated as Rs. 10,000/- per annum in this case.
Visit:
To verify the contents of the application, the STP was visited by the undersigned on 09.01.2026 and during visit, it was observed as under:
1. The STP is based on SBR technology and was in operation due to maintenance.
2. The STP has installed water meter at the inlet and outlet of STP and it has now maintained the record of the same.
3. The Authority has not installed the OCEMS at the outlet of STP. The Authority informed that the required approvals for the installation of Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS) have already been obtained and the necessary procedural steps are underway.
4. No wild grass was observed in the vicinity of the STP area as the Authority has cleared and the said area.
5. The treated water is being presently used for irrigation purpose in the green belts of IFP Nabha (New). The Authority informed that only 200 KLD approx. water is being received in the STP for treatment. In future, the possibility for laying of treated water in IFP Nabha (Old) shall be explored if there is excess treated water.
6. The STP has installed DG set of capacity 160 KVA which is equipped with canopy and stack of adequate height.
Recommendations:
In view of the facts mentioned above, if approved, it is recommended Fresh Consent to Operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for operation of the STP to treat the domestic effluent @ 200 KLD may be granted for short period i.e. upto 30.06.2026 with suitable conditions and additional conditions that:
1. The Authority will install the OCEMS at the outlet of STP and connect with the server of the PPCB/CPCB within 01 month.
2. The Authority will operate the STP effectively and will maintain the record of the same.
3. The Authority shall ensure that maximum treated wastewater will be utilized for irrigation purpose.
Competency- Worthy Chairperson |
