Pollution Board grants relaxation to complexes already connected to public sewer lines
PANAJI
Taking serious note of discharge of untreated effluent in the open by housing complexes, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has directed all the residential housing colonies, with more than 24 flats, to immediately install sewage treatment plant (STP). The Board has granted relaxation to those complexes which are connected with sewer lines.
The Board during its meeting held on October 7, has also made it mandatory for the builders, with upcoming project, to ensure that while applying for Consent to Operate or Establish STP, condition is set that the same has to be maintained for a period of three years or until the same is handed over to the society.
The decision was taken following directions from the High Court via an order dated September 11.
The Board observed that the builder of the complex initially applies and obtains Consent to Establish and Operate STP and once the flats in the complex are sold out, the builder fails to maintain the STP and in some cases does not hand over the same to the housing society, leading to non-operation of STPs causing health hazard.
“The members approved to submit the decision of the Board to the State Government to insist that all residential housing complexes having more than 24 flats shall mandatorily install Sewage Treatment Plant, as the Board receives numerous complaints stating that STPs installed at housing complexes are not effectively operating thereby causing discharge of untreated effluent in the open,” reads the minutes of the meeting.
“After further deliberations, it was also decided to direct all Builders that in the Consent to Operate / Establish, that they will be required to install and thereafter operate and maintain the STPs at the residential complexes for a period of three years or until the same is handed over to the Housing Society/ Housing Association till the Consent is transferred in the name of the Society/Association, during which time the Society/ Association Operator should be sufficiently trained to operate the STP,” the Board said.
