Housing Societies in Pune to Face Penalties for Not Running In-House STPs
Housing Societies in Pune to Face Penalties for Not Running In-House STPs
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will soon penalise housing societies that are not operating their in-house sewage treatment plants (STPs). The civic body has made it compulsory for residential complexes with more than 100 flats to install STPs and reuse the treated water. However, an inspection revealed that many societies either do not run these plants or do not reuse the treated water.
PMC officials said expert agencies will soon be appointed to help societies set up, operate, and maintain small STPs. These agencies will also offer technical support to solve issues like high electricity usage or noise from the treatment plants. A new policy for operating STPs in housing societies is also being prepared.
As per PMC’s building rules, large residential projects must treat their sewage and reuse the water within the premises. This reduces pressure on the city’s sewage system and saves fresh water. In the past five years, PMC approved 772 small STPs with a combined capacity to treat over 1.11 lakh kilolitres of sewage.
However, officials found that many builders install STPs only to get project approvals. After possession, these plants often remain unused because societies lack the expertise to run them. As a result, untreated sewage is discharged into natural streams, stormwater drains, or the city’s main sewage lines, adding pressure on PMC’s infrastructure.
PMC now plans to empanel private agencies that will maintain STPs for at least five years. These agencies will recommend suitable technologies, ensure compliance with MPCB norms, and be monitored regularly by PMC for performance, quality, and efficiency.
Housing federation chairman Suhas Patwardhan said PMC must ensure builders run STPs for the first five years after installation. He added that societies should not be penalised without proper support and awareness. He also suggested involving the Federation to spread awareness about proper STP use.
Meanwhile, PMC continues to struggle with treating all sewage generated in the city and is also working to improve water management, including studying groundwater levels and monitoring water drawn from reservoirs.
