The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) will be disconnecting the water supply of housing societies, which have no or non-functional sewage treatment plants in their premises.
Recently, activists met officials of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and registered a complaint about the absence of STPs and non-functional STP’s in many big housing projects. The activists had sought action against the developers and operators of the housing societies for causing the pollution of the Panchaganga river.
The STP’s are made mandatory to treat the waste water generated in the apartments and then release it in the open drains. The activists had claimed that to avoid the expense on the electricity bills, the STP’s are kept non-functional. As per the development rules, the KMC can issue the completion certificate and occupancy certificate only after confirming the presence and functioning of the STP.
Civic chief Mallinath Kalshetti said, “The waste water released from the residential societies is a major contributor to the pollution of the Panchaganga river. I have asked the senior officers of the town planning department to survey and issue notices to the operators of the housing societies. In case of the absence of the STP’s, the action to fine them should be immediately taken. Also, I have maintained that the officials not following the orders and reluctant to act against the developers or the operators of the housing societies will have to face strict disciplinary action. The pollution of the river is a major concern. The National Green Tribunal is hearing a petition over it and we have to ensure that all the measures adopted to reduce the pollution are being implemented.”
As per the uniform development control rules for D class municipal corporations, the housing projects with more than 10,000 square meter plots or more the waste water treatment and water recycling plant are mandatory. For all other buildings such as educational, hotels and lodgings with a built-up area of 1,500 square meter or if the water consumption is 20,000 liters per day then the waste water treatment plant is mandatory.
Civic chief has also directed his officials to cancel the waiver of 5% given in the property tax to the owners, developers or the operators of the residential buildings, if the treatment plants are found non-functional. The responsible persons may have to face the fine of Rs 2,500 a day of detection of non-functional treatment plant and if the plant continues to remain non-functional fine of Rs 100 per day will be imposed.
A senior official also said that if the plant is not functioning properly then the penalty of Rs 200 per the day will be imposed and water supply to these residential apartments will be disconnected.