Pune News : PCMC issues notices to 41 residential societies against non-operational STPs

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has issued notices to 41 residential societies of whom the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are non-operational.

As per further information from the press release shared by the PCMC, according to the Central Government’s notification dated 9th December 2016, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has made it mandatory to process and reuse the waste water generated in the premises of the project for 20,000 sq. m. constructions.

Also as per the provisions of Rule 13.4 of the New Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UNDCPR), Maharashtra, it is mandatory for constructions of more than 10,000 sq. m. to recycle treated water. The UNDCPR regulations have a provision to close the tap connections of societies that do not recycle treated water.

Hence, a consulting agency has been appointed for effective implementation of this through Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and regular inspection of residential societies’ STPs is being carried out. Also, notices have been given to the societies whose STP is not operational and water is not reused for non-drinking use. The societies have been informed by the PCMC that the water connection will be closed if the societies do not take action for the operation of STP.

As most of the societies have implemented their STP but no positive response has been received from 41 societies, from 11th December 2023, their PCMC water connections will be closed.

However, it is requested that the societies whose STP projects are non-operational and have been given notice by Municipal Corporation, should cooperate with Municipal Corporation and avoid closing of PCMC water connection.

Society chairpersons have expressed their opinions regarding this.

Subhash Satpute, Chairman, Madhav Apartment, Moshi, said “Sending such notices about STPs is not right & completely unfair. It is the builder’s responsibility to provide functional STPs for the society. Also, even the PCMC can help out the societies regarding maintaining & functioning of STPs.”

Kiran Vadgama, Chairman, Palash Society, Wakad, said “If the residential societies have received notices regarding STPs,which authority has checked the STP’s ? The STPs must be checked by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) who has the authority to do so. While sanctioning a construction project, has the PCMC checked the actual size of the STP & whether the STP is as per the regulations laid down by the environmental ministry ? When a project is sanctioned, environmental clearance is given which has to be monitored by the MPCB jointly with the PCMC. But the PCMC has given the monitoring responsibility to a private agency who has no experience in this. While monitoring, they come with a questionnaire to a society. If no one is present in the society, they fill up the questionnaire themselves. From the response in the questionnaire, the PCMC takes a call regarding the STPs. How are societies to be blamed as the STPs are installed by the builder. If the STPs installed by the builder are non-functional, how will the societies be able to run it ? “

Dattatray Deshmukh, Chairman, Pimpri Chinchwad Housing Societies Federation, said “It has been informed to the societies that their water connections will be cut if no action is taken by the societies against non-operational STPs. Firstly, water connection cannot be cut. The PCMC, before checking the STPs of the societies, must check their own STPs first. Our federation will definitely look into this issue.”

Shreyas Vange