GSPCB to TCP: Ensure STP compliance in large residential colonies

PANAJI
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has written to the Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) to ensure that all the residential housing colonies, with more than 24 flats, are equipped with sewage treatment plant (STP) facilities, before issuing required permissions.
The Board, during its meeting held in October last year, had taken serious note of the discharge of untreated effluent in the open by housing complexes and had decided to make STP mandatory. The Board had decided to grant relaxation to those complexes which are connected with sewer lines.
In a letter to the Chief Town Planner (CTP), the Board has requested to ensure that all upcoming big projects have STP in place. The Board has said that while applying for Consent to Operate or Establish STP, condition is set that the STP has to be maintained for a period of three years or until the same is handed over to the society.
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 a health hazard.
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.