The Greater Noida Authority plans to impose heavy fines on residents and developers if they extract and use groundwater. It will also soon allow only treated water use at construction sites.
The decision comes after an authority inspection found many builders still using groundwater despite a ban on such use.
CEO Surendra Singh has directed the sewer wing to make and implement the provision of mandatory use of water from sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the construction sector as early as possible. After that, any person found exploiting groundwater will be heavily fined. Legal action might be taken against him, too, Singh added.
Most of the Greater Noida area is in the ‘critical’ zone for groundwater levels. A report of UP groundwater department revealed that the water table has depleted by nearly 6.09 metres between 2016 and 2020, sliding from 6.66 metres in 2016 to 12.75 metres in 2020.
Kapil Singh, in charge of the sewer department, said, “Buying treated water from STPs for construction works is not expensive. The authority is providing 1,000 litres of water for just Rs 7. Anyone who wants treated water can submit an application form at the water department or reception counter of the authority. Once payment is received, the applicant will get permission to take water from a STP through a tanker.”
Additionally, CEO Singh has directed officials to take the application form and fee submission process online.
Many, including NTPC Research Institute and Holitech Company, are already using treated water for industrial purposes. CEO Singh has appealed to all companies to use treated water for such work.
Currently, there are four STPs with a total capacity of 174 MLD (million litres per day) in the city. These STPs treat 109 MLD of sewage. The largest one is in Kasna and treats 90 MLD of sewage. The STP at Ecotech 2 treats 5 MLD sewage. The STP at Ecotech 3 treats 12 MLD, and the Badalpur STP treats 2 MLD sewage.
