The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has levied a penalty of Rs 50 lakh on Ajnara Homes located in Sector 16B due to a non-operational sewage treatment plant (STP) and the discharge of untreated sewage. Furthermore, the society has been fined over Rs 4 lakh for inadequate management of its solid waste.
The society, which comprises approximately 2,300 flats, produces an estimated 1.15 million litres of sewage daily (MLD). Inspections revealed that untreated sewage from the society was being released into a drain. Recently, when the drain became clogged, sewage began to overflow into the basements of adjacent residences. Residents reported that the STP had been inactive for two years, according to officials.
GNIDA CEO NG Ravi Kumar instructed the sewerage department to send notices to builder societies, requesting information on the installed capacity and operational status of their STPs. The societies were also queried about the reuse of treated sewage water for the irrigation of plants and trees. In instances of non-compliance or failure to respond, officials were directed to conduct on-site inspections and initiate penal measures.
The enforcement action against Ajnara Homes was part of this initiative. “We had requested information from the builder concerning the installed capacity and operational status of the STP, the total residential population, and the reuse of treated sewage. However, no information was provided. Following complaints from residents, a team led by a senior manager from the sewerage department visited the site and discovered that the STP was entirely non-functional,” stated GNIDA additional chief executive officer Sunil Kumar Singh.
These infractions are in violation of directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as well as the norms set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), according to officials. Additionally, officials found that the society had further breached regulations by extracting groundwater for irrigation purposes.
GNIDA has levied a fine of Rs 50 lakh and has instructed the builder to remit this amount within seven working days. Furthermore, the builder has been directed to activate the STP and guarantee that treated sewage is utilized for irrigation and other applications, as stated by officials. Additionally, GNIDA’s health department has imposed a further penalty of Rs 4.32 lakh due to the failure to maintain adequate solid waste management.
GNIDA has called upon builder societies to ensure that sewage is processed through STPs and that the treated water is repurposed for irrigation and other uses. According to NGT reports, Noida utilizes 86 MLD of STP water, which constitutes nearly 33%, while the remaining 178 MLD is released into drains.
