Despite multiple agencies pushing apartment complexes with over 50 flats to install Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), it has met with little success with apartments arguing that no norm can be implemented retrospectively. In a recent survey, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) found that over 900 large apartments are yet to install STPs on their premises.
Installing localised STPs is a prerequisite to stop letting untreated sewage into lakes, especially on the city’s outskirts like Bellandur, say experts and BWSSB officials. “The government cannot do everything. Building STP capacity to the quantum of sewage being produced will take longer, choking our lakes in the process. Apartments need to pitch in by taking care of their sewage,” said A.N. Yellappa Reddy, member, technical committee on rejuvenation of Bellandur lake.
While BWSSB has extended the deadline to install in situ STPs to December 31, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has began serving notices to apartments in Bellandur lake catchment area where the deadline was September 9. Sources said most large apartments in the area were yet to comply.
The Federation of Apartments Association, Bengaluru, has been protesting against the STP norm, demanding that the rule cannot be implemented retrospectively. “It is legal principle that no law can be implemented with retrospective effect. When the civic body cleared these apartments and we built them, no such rule existed. Its unreasonable of them to expect us to now take over their functions,” said C.S.V. Prasad, president of FAA-B.
‘Practical difficulties’
He said there were practical difficulties in installing an STP in old apartments. “Money is the least of the concerns. Most of them do not have any setback space. Also, it would require connecting all the toilets to the STP, which is not feasible in many old apartments for fear of disturbing its stability,” he said.
However, BWSSB officials are taking up another awareness drive and will later impose penalty. “It is a rule of the State government and apartments have to comply with it. If not, we will impose a penalty of 50% of the water bill,” said H.M. Ravindra, chief engineer, BWSSB.
‘Need area-wise rules’
The mandatory STP rule aims to prevent untreated sewage into lakes, an everyday reality in the city’s outskirts unserviced by the sewerage network.
However, apartment associations cry foul that old apartments, some of them over 30 years old in the core city, which are well serviced by a robust sewerage network and not in the vicinity of any lake, are also being forced to install STPs. They have called for different rules for apartments in core areas and those in the outer zones, not serviced by the sewerage network.
Apartment associations in the outer areas complain that BWSSB, which has provided neither sewerage network nor piped water supply, cannot ask them to install STPs. An office-bearer of an apartment association in Mahadevapura said it was absurd of BWSSB to threaten to impose 50% penalty on water bill, when it doesn’t provide any service at all.