The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board issued a statement on Tuesday that all building projects including multi-storied apartment buildings, IT parks, commercial establishments having built-up area more than 20,000 sq m shall get consent to operate from the TNPCB under the Water (P&CP) Act, 1974 and the Air (P&CP) Act, 1981.
The order came in response to a TOI story on how multi-storey buildings above 20,000 sq m were not taking environmental clearances. Thereafter, the proponents who have got consent shall apply and get renewal of consent regularly and they shall operate the facility only with valid consent of the pollution control board.
Even construction projects with built-up area less than 20,000 sqm, if they are provided with sewage treatment plant should also get consent of the board for effective monitoring of operation of such plants, the statement said.
It stated that in case of residential apartment complexes, where the promoter handed over the building to the owners association, the said association shall apply and get consent of the TNPCB and subsequently renew the consent regularly.
STP shall be operated efficiently so as to meet the standards. The treated sewage shall be recycled, used for gardening, tree plantation as per consent order conditions.