| File Note: |
It is submitted that the subject cited university was granted consent to operate under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Renewal/PTA/2021/15086170 dated 28.04.2021 and under the Air Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Renewal/PTA/2021/15086319 dated 28.04.2021, both are valid upto 31.03.2026 for Fixed Population Students & Staff @ 4100 Number/Year and Floating Population Students & Staff @ 9900 Number/Year subject to the suitable terms & conditions mentioned therein.
Now, the university has applied for obtaining renewal of 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 Fixed Population @ 5700 Number/Year and Floating Population @ 13,800 Number/Year. However, due to increase in fixed and floating population, the university is required to apply for varied consent to operate under the both Acts.
As per the record, the fee deposited by the university against the fixed assets of Rs. 296.72 crore was adequate upto 31.03.2026. Now, the university has submitted the CA certificate dated 01.11.2025, wherein, the total value of fixed assets as on 31.03.2025 has been mentioned as Rs. 354.23 crore. Accordingly, the university has deposited Rs. 3,60,000/- vide online R. No. 598410770 dated 29.09.2025 under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Rs. 3,60,000/- vide online R. No. 304982579 dated 29.09.2025 under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. As such, after adjusting Rs. 72,000/- as NOC regularization fee for increase in cost of fixed assets, the fee deposited by the university is adequate upto 30.04.2027 under the both Acts as per Board's officer order dated 29.10.2018.
It is pertinent to mention here that the university was visited by the officers of this office on 22.11.2025 and Sh. Sanjeev Bharadwaj, Associate Director was contacted. During visit, the university was found violating the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Accordingly, the university was issued show cause notice for revocation & cancellation of consent to operate granted under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 and 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 worthy Chairperson of the Board on 03.02.2026, wherein, it was decided that the site of the institute shall be visited by EPS team today itself, i.e. on 03.02.2026. The team shall check the submissions made by the institute during hearing, carry out effluent monitoring at the site, check the compliance of the EIA notification dated 14.09.2006, Water Act, 1974 and shall submit a detailed report in the matter, so that further action may be taken in the matter.
In compliance to the hearing decision, the university was visited by the Environment Protection Squad (EPS)-1 on 03.02.2026 and the detailed visit report is as under:
1.0 Status of the Regulatory Compliances:
i) The project proponent had obtained fresh CTO under the provisions of Water Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Fresh/PTA/2016/4763707 dated 20.12.2016 valid upto 30.09.2017 and Air Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Fresh/PTA/2016/4763497 dated 20.12.2016 valid upto 30.09.2017 for operating an educational institution having a built-up area @1,09,176 sqm and having 8000 students & staff. As per the CTO, the university has installed two STPs of capacities 300 KLD & 170 KLD for treatment of domestic effluent @ 504 KLD and after treatment the treated waste-water of 78 KLD will be used for flushing and the remaining wastewater onto land for plantation/gardening purposes in an area of 10.0 acres developed by the University.
Lastly, the project proponent has obtained renewal of consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 on 28/4/2021, valid upto 31/3/2026 for operating an educational institution in an area of 159928 sqm and built-up area of 146367.6 sqm, having a fixed population of students & staff of 4100 persons and floating population students & staff of 9900 persons. As per the CTO, the university has installed two no. STPs for the treatment of domestic effluent @ 504 KLD and after treatment, disposal onto land for plantation and has installed four DG sets of capacity 500 KVA each & one no. DG set of capacity 600 KVA. The consent to operate was granted under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 with the additional special conditions, some of which are reproduced as under:
a) The university shall comply with conditions imposed in the Environmental Clearance granted to it in true letter & spirit.
b) The university shall maintain and operate its Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), regularly and efficiently, so as to achieve the effluent standards, consistently as prescribed by the Board/Mo EF&CC and as amended from time to time.
c) The university shall not discharge any kind of its wastewater (treated or untreated) into any drain/nallah/nadi/choe/river/inland surface water under any circumstances.
Observations:
a) Although the institute has obtained the renewal of CTO from the Board but has failed to obtain the varied consent under the provisions of Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 for increased built-up area and increased population for which the institute is required to deposit NOC regularization fee, which could not be verified.
b) The institute has applied renewal of consents for disposal of treated effluent @ 78KLD for flushing purposes and @426 KLD for disposal onto land plantation. However, the certificate for renewal of CTO was granted to the institute with mode of disposal as Domestic Effluent @ 504.0 KLD : Onto land for plantation after treatment in two STPs.
ii) The institute has obtained NOC for expansion vide no. CTE/Exp/PTA/2021/13723389 dated 28/1/2021, valid upto 20/11/2021 for operating an educational institution having built up area @ 165221.91 sqm and having Staff (Existing-1500 + Proposed-1500) @ 3000 Number, Population Floating (Existing-9900 + Proposed-3900) @ 13800 Number and Population Fixed (Existing-4100 + Proposed-1600) @ 5700 Number and for treatment of domestic effluent @ 830.0 KLD and after treatment disposal @ 370 KLD - Onto land for plantation in the green area and @ 460 KLD - For flushing purposes and for installation of one DG set of capacity 500 KVA and one DG set of capacity 600 KVA. The NOC for expansion was extended under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 on 25/11/2021, which has expired on 19/11/2024 with the following special conditions:
a) The project proponent shall be bound to obtain varied consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, before operation of the expansion part of the University.
b) This letter shall be appended with the CTE issued to the project proponent vide no. CTE/Exp/PTA/2021/13723389 dated 28/01/2021 and its subsequent extension(s), if any.
c) The project proponent shall carry out construction/ installation of pollution control measures, in commensuration with the construction of main project, at the site.
Observations:
a) The university has failed to obtain extension in validity of NOC for expansion, which has expired on 19/11/2024. Further, the population for which NOC for expansion has been obtained (@ 3000+13800+5700= 22500) is more than the population for which EC has been obtained by the project proponent (@ 5700+13800=19500). Further, there is ambiguity in the quantity of domestic effluent generation as mentioned in the NOC for expansion @ 830 KLD (against population of 22500) and as mentioned in the EC @ 830 KLD (against population of 19500).
b) The project proponent has constructed building namely Ibn Battuta block-2, physiotherapy block, Aristotle hostel, Archimedes hostel, Kotler block (BCA), Kotler block (MBA), connecting bridge, franklin hostel and Alfred Nobel hostel without obtaining prior NOC for expansion from the Board.
iii) The university has obtained authorization under Hazardous & Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 vide no. HWM/renew/PTA/2021/15623290 dated 31.05.2021 valid till 31.03.2026 for Generation, Collection, Storage, Disposal of used oil @ 0.4 KL/annum.
Observations:
a) The institute has failed to obtain authorisation under Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 for Generation, Collection, Storage, Disposal of category 5.2 and 33.1.
iv) The university has failed to obtain authorization under Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 from the Board.
v) The university has obtained environmental clearance vide no. DECC/SEIAA/2020/1532 dated 19.03.2020. As per the EC granted to the University, total land area of the institute is 63.45 acres, total built-up area is 263478.24 sqm and area under playgrounds, parks, green area is 43854.01 sqm. The total fixed population of the university is 5700 and total floating population of the university is 13800. The total fresh water demand is 570 KLD and wastewater @ 830 KLD generated from the institute will be treated in STP of 1200 KLD installed in the project. After treatment, the treated water will be used for following purposes:
Sr. no. Season For Flushing purposes (KLD) Green Area Sqm (KLD) Plantation area (5.81 acres), if any (KLD)
1. Summer 460 240 130
2. Winter 460 110 260
3. Rainy 460 70 300
The EC was granted subject to special conditions mentioned therein and additional conditions to the effect that the Project Proponent shall adhere to the commitments made in the proposal for CER activities for spending a minimum amount of Rs. 80.01 Lacs towards following CER activities:
CER Commitment (Chitkara University, Punjab)
Proposed CSER activity Amount
(INR) Likely date of completion
1. Village Jhansala
i) Installation of Solar Power Plant in Secondary School 120000 December, 2020
ii) Health Care Support 500000 December, 2020
iii) Construction of Girls Toilets in Sr. Secondary School 2 Nos 400000 December, 2020
iv) Construction of Girls Toilets in Elementary School 1 Nos 200000 December, 2020
v) Construction of Girls Toilets in Village Vocational center 1 Nos 250000 December, 2020
vi) Renovation of Vocational center 200000 December, 2020
vii) Tree Plantation & Maintenance with tree Guard in Village 200 Nos 230000 December, 2021
viii) Furniture at Sr. Secondary School 150000 December, 2021
ix) Paving tiles in elementary school 450000 December, 2021
x) Audio Visual equipment’s for smart class room in elementary School 125000 December, 2021
xi) Development of Botanical Garden of Senior Secondary School 500000 December, 2021
2 Village Kalo Majra
i) Construction of Girls Toilets in Elementary School 1 Nos 200000 December, 2022
ii) Renovation of Cremation Sheds 400000 December, 2022
iii) Tree Plantation & Maintenance with tree Guard in Village 115 Nos 132250 December, 2022
iv) Audio Visual equipment’s for smart class room in elementary School 125000 December, 2022
v) Medical camp and health care support 300000 December, 2022
vi) Installation of Solar Street Lighting 10 Nos. 120000 December, 2022
3 Village Ram Nagar
i) Construction of Girls Toilets Elementary School 1 Nos 200000 December, 2023
ii) Tree Plantation & Maintenance with tree Guard in Village 100 Nos 115000 December, 2023
iii) Audio Visual equipment’s for smart class room in elementary School 125000 December, 2023
iv) Medical camp and health care support 315000 December, 2023
v) Paving tiles in elementary School 450000 December, 2023
vi) Installation of Solar Power Plant in Elementary School 120000 December, 2023
4 Village Thuha
i) Construction of Boundary Wall for Community center 1050000 December, 2024
ii) Supply and installation of Colour coded waste Bins 50 Nos 100000 December, 2023
iii) Medical camp and health care support 330000 December, 2023
iv) Installation of Solar Power Plant in Community Centre 120000 December, 2023
5 Village Fatehpurgarhi
i) Construction of Girls Toilets Elementary School 2 Nos 400000 December, 2024
ii) Audio Visual equipment’s for smart class room in elementary School 125000 December, 2024
iii) Tree Plantation & Maintenance with tree Guard in Village 25 Nos 28750 December, 2024
iv) Installation of Solar Power Plant in Elementary School 120000 December, 2024
Total amount 8001000
Observation:
The institute has not provided the record for the expenditure made on Corporate Environmental Responsibilities to verify the same.
2.0 Status of compliance of Environmental Norms.
i) The institute is a private university developed in an area of 63.45 acres having built up area of 2,63,418.87 sqm as informed by the representative. The university consists of 45 buildings (detail mentioned in layout plan approved by STP vide no. 1830 dated 27.12.2023). A copy of the layout plan provided during the visit is attached as per Annexure-1.
Observations:
a) The institute has constructed two no. classrooms i.e. zeta learning hub and delta learning hub which have not been mentioned on the layout plan approved by the STP resulting in exceedance of actual built-up area beyond the built-up area mentioned in the EC.
ii) The institute has obtained permission from PWRDA vide no. GW/PWRDA/09/2023/L3/228 dated 28.09.2023 valid till 27.09.2026 for abstraction of groundwater @ 25410 KL/month (@847 KLD) using 4 no. borewells. The institute has installed 3 no. borewells for abstraction of ground water and 4th borewell is yet to be installed as informed by the representative. As per record maintained by the institute, it has abstracted @ 16319.58 KL/month (@526 KLD) ground water from the 3 borewells in the month of December and @ 14064.09 KL/month (468.8 KLD) ground water from the 3 borewells in the month of November. Copy of the permission obtained from PWRDA and record of ground-water abstraction is as Annexure-2.
iii) The institute has installed 3 no. STPs of capacity 250 KLD, 1 MLD and 2 MLD within its premises for the treatment of waste-water generated from its premises, which were in operation during the visit. No bye-pass of effluent was observed. Aeration in MBBR-2 tank of STP of 2 MLD was improper and plastic media was found collected on the top. The representative informed that the institute has developed green area within the premises 125990.75 sqm and karnal technology @ 5.81 acres for disposal of treated waste-water after STPs. Besides this, the institute has also entered into MOU with nearby farmer for disposal of treated water @ 200-300 KLD onto his land measuring 5 acres situated outside the premises of the institute through pipeline. A copy of the MOU is attached as Annexure-3. Samples from the outlet of 3 no. STPs were collected and one no. sample from the outlet of STPs leading to Karnal technology was also collected and send to the Head Office laboratory for analysis & results are awaited. The water meter reading observed during the visit is as under:
a) STP of 2 MLD capacity- Inlet meter not operational. Outlet meter -320047 m3.
b) STP of 1 MLD capacity- Inlet meter-149894.5 m3. Outlet meter not operational.
c) STP of 250 KLD capacity- Inlet meter-75698 m3. Outlet meter -4763.1 m3.
3.0 Other Observations:
1. Though the MOU has been made with the Sh. Pradeep Kumar Chugh, Farmer, but the area was not mentioned in the MOU. Besides this, the institute is required to obtain varied CTO for change in mode of disposal.
2. The institute has made arrangement for using treated water for dual plumbing in some of the buildings, however the same is not being used & instead fresh water is being supplied through these lines which was verified from the physical observation of the water as checked during visit and further no UF has been provided with the STPs in order to make the treated water fit for using in dual plumbing. The land used by the institute for the disposal of treated waste water is not developed as per the Karnal technology methodology and wild growth was also observed. Further, some patches of the furrows were dry and lot of stagnation of water was observed in most of the furrows.
3. Team observed accumulation of water outside the premises adjoining to the STP of 1 MLD and it is apprehended that the institute may be discharging treated waste water on to the said land.
4. Team observed that institute has increased the capacity of treatment of domestic waste water by installing 3rd STP of capacity of 2 MLD without getting amendment in the EC as well as in the CTO under Water Act, 1974. No record regarding treatment and disposal of domestic waste-water was provided during visit.
5. The institute has provided laundry section for the washing of clothes of the staff and students in which detergent, bleaching chemical and conditioner was being used and the waste-water was being treated in STP of 2 MLD capacity. No ETP has been installed or no system of neutralization (pH correction) has been provided in STP as effluent from laundry section affecting biological treatment.
6. The institute has done agreement with M/s Rainbow Environments Pvt. Ltd., Mohali for disposal of BMW generated from the clinic located within its premises. Though the institute has made the agreement with the CBWTF but failed to produce the proper record of generation and lifting of BMW.
7. The institute has provided 1 no. carpenter workshop with attached painting section for making/repairing furniture for internal use. The institute has made agreement for disposal of empty paint containers of category 33.1 with M/s Surya Chemicals, Derabassi on 03.10.2025. A compressor was also found lying in the paint section signalling that the institute may be carrying out painting using spray gun. No paint filters were found installed.
8. The institute has provided a dedicated room with lock & key arrangement for storage of HW. The institute has done agreement with M/s BRS Lubricants, Mandi Gobindgarh for disposal of HW of category 5.1. The institute has not made agreement for disposal of HW of category 5.2 (Oil filters and waste cloth generated during servicing of DG sets). No proper record regarding generation and disposal of hazardous waste was provided during visit.
9. The institute has provided labour quarters within its premises and around 50-60 labour reside there and the representative informed that the untreated domestic effluent is disposed off through soakage pit.
10. C&D waste along with municipal solid waste of the institute was found disposed near labour quarters in violation of the duties of waste generator under C&D Rules, 2016.
11. The institute has provided composter of 500 kg/day capacity for the treatment of vegetable cuttings. As per record maintained by the institute, 4850 kgs vegetable waste has been treated in the composter in Dec-2025 and manure @ 3400 kgs has been produced. No energy meter has been provided with the composter to adjudge status of operation. The institute has not provided mechanical screener for screening out the vermi-compost.
12. A SYL canal also flows adjoining the boundary of the institute and it was observed that overflow from karnal technology was leading to SYL canal and sample of this water before entering SYL canal was collected and sent to Head Office lab for analysis & results are awaited. A pond containing stagnant water (treated water from STP+ rain water) was found near karnal technology area and the overflow was leading to SYL canal. Hence, the institute is violating the condition of CTO granted to it.
13. The institute has installed DG sets of capacity 910 KVA*3 and 500 KVA*2 with canopy and adequate stack height. Two no. new DG sets of capacity 750 KVA each have arrived but yet to be installed. The capacity of DG sets installed and for which CTO has been granted are different, hence the project proponent requires to obtain varied CTO under Air Act, 1981.
14. The institute has installed solar power plant @ 1.2 MW within its premises and solar power plant of 400 KW yet to be commissioned.
15. The institute is lifting its solid waste to vendor Sh. Deshraj based in Rajpura and it was observed that some of the bags were red coloured and green coloured with bio-hazard symbol imprinted over it.
16. The institute could not produce record regarding handing over of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I of E-waste Management Rules, 2022 only to the registered producer, refurbisher or recycler.
17. Photographs taken during the visit may kindly be perused at Annexure-4.
4.0 Conclusion
The institute is not complying with the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; EIA Notification 14.09.2006;the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016; the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016; the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016; Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 and the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. Further, the institute is discharging stagnant water into the SYL Canal adjoining the premises, has not installed DG sets as per the consented capacities
5.0 Recommendations:
1) CTO granted to the institute under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 may be revoked due to the aforesaid violations.
2) Notice to issue directions under section 33-A of the Water Act, 1974 and 31-A of the Air Act, 1981 and section 5 of the EPA may be issued with an opportunity of personal hearing before worthy Chairperson of the Board due to the aforesaid violations.
3) Results of the samples of treated waste-water collected by the team from different points shall be examined and incorporated after receipt of sampling results, in the notice to be issued by Zonal Office-I, Patiala.
In view of the facts mentioned above, if approved, it is recommended as under:
1. The renewal of consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be refused.
2. Further action will be initiated against the university as per the recommendations given by the Environment Protection Squad (EPS)-1 in the visit report. |
