| File Note: |
Earlier Status:
It is submitted that the project proponent was earlier granted Consent to Operate (CTO) under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Fresh/SAS/2020/11485322 dated 19/02/2020 expired on 30/09/2024 for Residential Project Consisting of 88 flats(2 BHK @ 16 No.& 1 Bedroom studio flat @ 72 No. in an area of 2729 sqm having total built up area 4035 sqm, subject to suitable conditions and special conditions mentioned therein.
The site was visited by AEE of this office on 23.05.2023 and found violation under the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.The project proponent was issued served notice u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer (P) of the Board on 17/7/2023. But, neither any representative of the project proponent attended the hearing nor submitted any written reply/ communication were received.
After that, the project proponent was given another opportunity of personal hearing u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide Board's letter no. 5234-35 dated 21/7/2023 before the Chief Environmental Engineer (P) of the Board on 28/7/2023 and 24/8/2023. But, again neither any representative of the project proponent attended the hearing nor submitted any written reply/ communication was received. The project proponent was given another opportunity of personal hearing u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 before the Chief Environmental Engineer (P) of the Board and again given hearing on 4/8/2023.
After hearing, the Chief Environmental Engineer (P) of the Board in the hearing dated 04/08/2023 decided as under:
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 immediately alongwith requisite document and fee.
2. Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Regional Office, SAS Nagar shall visit the site immediately to check the compliances made by the project proponent, quantity of discharge & adequacy of plantation area developed by the project proponent, carry out monitoring of STP and thereafter, process the consent application of the project proponent on merits.
In compliance to the decisions of personal hearing, the site was visited by officer of the Board on 27.08.2024 and found that the project proponent was not complying with the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and also not complying with the conditions as mentioned in the consent to operate earlier granted to it under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The project proponent was given another opportunity of personal hearing vide Board’s letter no. 4036-37 dated 05/11/2024 before the Chief Environmental engineer (P) of the Board on 12/11/2024.
After hearing the representative of the project proponent and officer of the Board, the Chief Environmental Engineer (P) of the Board decided as under:
1. The project proponent shall submit bank guarantee amounting to Rs. 5.0 Lakhs as an assurance to comply with the provisions of the Environmental Laws to O/o Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Regional Office, SAS Nagar, within 7-days.
2. The project proponent shall apply for obtaining consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, within 15-days.
3. The project proponent shall make adequate arrangement for in house treatment of solid waste such a bio-mechanization, microbial composting, vermi-composting and anaerobic digestion or any other appropriate processing within one month.
4. Environmental Engineer, RO, SAS Nagar shall visit the site surprisingly, verify the contentions made by the project proponent and other environmental compliances and process the consent applications to be applied by project proponent and submit its report with concrete recommendations after 15-days positively.
5. Further action shall be taken after the receipt of the report from Regional Office, SAS Nagar.
In compliance to the personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer (P) of the Board on 12/11/2024, the project proponent has submitted bank guarantee bearing no. 28040100000002 dated. 26.12.2024 valid upto 18.12.2025.
The project proponent had earlier applied for renewal Consent to Operate (CTO) under the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 for Residential Project Consisting of 88 flats(2 BHK @ 16 No.& 1 Bedroom studio flat @ 72No.) in an area of 2729 sqm having total built up area 4035 sqm, with requisite documents.
As such, the site was visited by the undersigned on 11.09.2025 and during visit it was observed that the project proponent was not complying with the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and report was sent to the Competent Authority.
Accordingly, the project proponent was given personal hearing before the worthy CEE(P) of the Board on 27.10.2025. After hearing the representatives of the industry, officers of the Board, and material facts on the record, the Chief Environmental Engineer (P) of the Board decided that:
1. Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, SAS Nagar shall immediately encash Rs. 2.5 lakh out of Rs. 5.0 lakh from the Bank Guarantee amounting to Rs. 5.0 lakh dated 26.12.2024 (valid upto 18.12.2025) and shall retain the remaining amount in safe custody.
2. The application of the project proponent for grant of Consent to Operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 shall be refused.
3. The project proponent shall engage/depute a qualified and permanent Environmental Engineer at its project(s) to ensure regular operation and maintenance of pollution control systems and adherence to environmental norms.
4. The Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, SAS Nagar shall personally visit the project site to verify the submissions made by the project proponent and the current status of environmental compliances, including the DG set, and shall submit a detailed report along with specific comments regarding the requirement of Consent to Operate under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
5. It was also made clear to the project proponent that any future violation of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 shall invite stringent action as deemed appropriate under the provisions of the said Acts/Rules, without issuance of any further notice or opportunity.
As per decision of the personal hearing the application for the renewal of Consent to Operate (CTO) under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 was refused vide no. CTOW/Renew/SAS/2025/29390288 dated 31.10.2025.
Present Status:
The project proponent has now again applied for renewal of Consent to Operate (CTO) under the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 for development of Residential Project Consisting of 88 flats (2BHK @ 16 No.& 1Bedroom studio flat @ 72No.) in an area of 2729 sqm having total built up area 4035 sqm under Green Category, with requisite documents and fees.
The project proponent has submitted CA certificate mentioning the cost of the project of Rs. 5.84 Crore as on 31.03.2025. The project proponent has deposited 99,500/- vide online R. no. 626350576 dated 03.04.2025 (linked with App. ID. 28308690) under the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The consent fee deposited by the project proponent is adequate upto 31.08.2035 under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 after adjusting the penalty fees.
In compliance to the personal hearing before the worthy CEE(P) of the Board on 27.10.2025, the project proponent has submitted 02 no. bank guarantees amounting to Rs. 2.5 lakh each. Bank guarantee bearing no. 28040100000009 dated 17.02.2026 having validity upto 18.02.2027 was encashed (as per decisions of the hearing) vide office letter no. 557 dated 20.02.2026 (copy enclosed) and another bank guarantee bearing no. 28040100000010 dated 17.02.2026 having validity upto 18.02.2027 is still in the custody of the Board for compliance of the environmental norms by the project proponent.
The project proponent has submitted its approved site plan got approved by MC, Kharar. The project proponent has submitted permission letter vide no. 1567 dated 22.08.2018 regarding discharge of treated water in MC’s discharge area and also submitted certificate vide no. 2169 dated 21.12.2019 regarding disposal of its solid waste.
The project proponent has submitted its completion certificate got prepared by M/s Vee R Engineers on 10.02.2015, wherein it has mentioned that:
“It is certified that installation of sewage treatment plant at omega city of capacity 250 m3/day at village Khanpur Tehsil Kharar distt. SAS Nagar is completed in all respect and ready for commissioning. The sewage treatment plant has following features:
Capacity 250 M3/hr
Technology used activated sludge process followed by Activated carbon treatment”
Further, the total built up under the project as mentioned in the application form and in the layout plan submitted is 43,442.00 sq.ft (4035 sqm), which is less than 20000 sq. m., hence the project is not covered under EIA notification dated 14/9/2006.
Incompliance of personal hearing decision no. 3 dated 27.10.2025, the project proponent has engaged a qualified and permanent Environmental Engineer, namely Er. Samarjit K. Goyal, with effect from 16.12.2025, to ensure regular operation and maintenance of pollution control systems and compliance with environmental norms. (copy enclosed)
The project proponent has submitted compliance report of consent condition earlier granted to it under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
The site was visited by the undersigned along with EE of this office on 13.01.2026 and during visit it was observed that:
1. The project proponent has constructed housing apartment @ 88 numbers (16 no. 2BHK and 72 studio apartments).
2. The project proponent has provided 100% occupancy in the project.
3. The project proponent has provided STP of capacity 250 KLD and the same was in operation during the visit. Flow-meter has been installed at the outlet of the STP with reading noted as 3.89 m3/hr and proper record is being maintained.
4. The effluent sample from the outlet of the STP was collected and sent to Head Office Water Lab Patiala for analysis and the concentration of the parameters is as under:
pH – 7.9, TSS mg/l – 62, TDS mg/l – 831, COD mg/l – 105, BOD mg/l – 25, O&G mg/ l – 5.1
As per the report concentration of various parameters are within the prescribed standard. (Copy enclosed)
5. The project proponent is now using 10 KLD treated water for flushing purpose and excess 14 KLD waste water is used for onto land for plantation after treatment though STP. Karnal technology in an area of approx 0.3 acres has been provided and hence the area provided is adequate to handle the hydraulic load. (karnal technology pics enclosed).
6. The project proponent has installed a mechanical composter for the treatment of biodegradable solid waste generated from the project, which is now operational and is being properly utilized.
7. The project proponent has not installed any DG set within the premises of project Omega City-1 and hence the project proponent has not applied Consent to Operate (CTO) under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The project proponent is now complying with the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981and also comply with the decisions of personal hearing.
In view of the above, it is recommended that Consent to Operate (CTO) earlier granted to it under the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Fresh/SAS/2020/11485322 dated 19/02/2020 expired on 30/09/2024 for Residential Project Consisting of 88 flats (2 BHK @ 16 No. & 1 Bedroom studio flat @ 72 No. in an area of 2729 sqm having total built up area 4035 sqm, is further renewed upto 30/09/2027, subject to all terms & conditions as mentioned in the earlier CTO granted to the project.
*Competency: Chief Environmental Engineer (P) |
