| File Note: |
Based on the report and recommendations of the officers of the Regional Office, it is observed that:-
It is a case of a construction project, i.e., residential housing of an Air Force Naval Housing Board (AFNHB), a welfare organisation with the objective of providing affordable houses to service/retired personnel and war widows of the defence services. The above-mentioned project is presently being maintained by Jal Vayu Vihar Towers Owners Welfare Society.
The Society has submitted a CA certificate indicating the amount of Rs. 3.50 lacs as on 31.03.2025, the RO was requested to re-check same as it seems impractical considering it is building construction project, The ro has reported that the Society has deposited the consent fee as per the earlier CA certificate indicating a gross investment of Rs. 63.42 Crore as on 27.07.2017.
The project proponent has submitted permission/NOC issued by MC Jalandhar vide its letter no. SE/201 dated 24.10.2017, wherein AFNHB has been allowed to dispose of domestic sewage water into the main municipal sewer, which is being treated at the STP installed at Pholriwal.
Further, as per the Board’s Order No. 315 dated 05.07.2018, the projects which had already been granted Consent to Operate by the Board before the issuance of these orders shall be governed by the conditions of the consent granted to them. The project in question had been granted consent prior to the issuance of these orders with the condition that the project proponent shall install a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) within 3 months and submit the compliance report, as conveyed during the proceedings of the hearing held before the Chief Environmental Engineer, Jalandhar on 27.04.2017. The project was granted consent on three occasions with the same condition.
However, till date the project has not installed the STP and has submitted its inability to install the same due to financial constraints, stating that the Society is being maintained by service/retired personnel and war widows of the defence services. At present, only domestic sewage is being discharged by the Society into the MC sewer.
The Society is required to deposit penalty under the Water Act amounting to Rs. 2,82,000/- and under the Air Act amounting to Rs. 2,25,600/-. After deduction of the penalty amount from the deposited Consent to Operate fee, the fee remains valid only up to 31.12.2023 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and up to 30.09.2024 under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, calculated on the basis of the gross investment as per the earlier CA certificate indicating Rs. 63.42 Crore as on 27.07.2017.
It has also been reported that the Society has provided separate bins to each family residing in the flats for segregated disposal of dry and wet municipal solid waste, and the collected waste is being lifted by MC Jalandhar.
Further, the Society, being maintained by service/retired personnel and war widows of the defence services, has expressed its inability to deposit the penalty amount and has not installed STP in contrary to its earlier granted CTO condition but its sewage is being discharged into the MC sewer having terminal STP. Therefore, if approved, a personal hearing may be afforded to the Society through issuance of a Show Cause Notice for refusal of CTO under the water act,1974 and air act,1981 before the competent authority of the Board.
(Comp: Hon’ble Chairperson) |
