The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has identified two group housing projects along the Dwarka Expressway that were bypassing untreated effluents during a review of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in high-rise buildings. The board issued show-cause notices to the violators.
Inspection Drive and Findings
The inspections were conducted as part of a compliance drive launched to verify whether STPs in rapidly expanding housing societies along Dwarka Expressway are operating according to prescribed environmental norms. This comes amid growing concerns over the city's rising wastewater pollution load.
On Wednesday, HSPCB officials inspected seven group housing and residential projects to assess the operational status and compliance of STPs installed by builders. Inlet and outlet samples were collected from the plants and sent to the HSPCB laboratory for analysis; reports are pending.
The board confirmed that two projects were found bypassing untreated effluents: Cogent Realtors' group housing project Woodshire in Sector 107 and Nani Resorts and Floriculture in Sector 102. Other inspected projects included Heritage Max in Sector 102, Godrej Real View Developers in Sector 106, Emaar MGF's Gurgaon Greens in Sector 102, Joyville by Shapoorji Housing in Sector 102, and Emerald Bay in Sector 104.
Background of the Compliance Drive
The inspection drive followed directions issued during a meeting chaired by the HSPCB chairman on the implementation of the Yamuna Action Plan. Last week, HSPCB officials stated that the inspections aimed to verify whether treated wastewater from these fast-growing residential areas met prescribed pollution standards before discharge or reuse.
Akanksha Tanwar, HSPCB regional officer, emphasized the importance of ensuring STPs function properly: "With large-scale residential development happening along Dwarka Expressway, it is important to verify if STPs in these societies are functioning as per norms. Nobody will be spared if untreated effluent is found being bypassed into leg-1, leg-2, or leg-3 drains. Strict action will be taken against violators."
Pollution Concerns and Expert Warnings
Earlier, HSPCB data revealed that Gurgaon contributes nearly 70% of the total pollution load entering the Yamuna from Haryana, primarily through the Najafgarh, Basai, and Badshahpur drains. The data also showed biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels in some major drains reaching 170 mg/L, far above the permissible limit of 3 mg/L, indicating severe organic pollution and discharge of untreated wastewater.
Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that although most group housing societies are required to install STPs, poor maintenance, inadequate capacity, and operational failures often reduce treatment efficiency, allowing partially treated sewage to enter the city's drainage network.
