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Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Over 40 Noida societies lack pollution board nod to operate STPs
NOIDA : An RTI reply has revealed that 43 group housing societies in the city lack the mandatory consent to operate (CTO) for their sewage treatment plants (STPs). CTO is a mandatory authorisation issued by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board ( UPPCB ) under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. It permits industries, commercial establishments, and group housing societies to operate their facilities while ensuring that their emissions, effluents, and waste management systems comply with environmental standards. Amit Gupta, a resident of Prateek Wisteria in Sector 77, had filed an RTI application on April 29 asking the pollution control board for the list of societies without CTOs, the action taken against them, fines imposed and recovered, and the names of those societies against which cases were filed in the Special Pollution Court in Lucknow. In its reply dated May 20, UPPCB stated that 43 group housing societies did not obtain the required CTO for their STPs. The list included prominent names such as Lotus Boulevard, Supertech Capetown, Sikka Karmic, Logix Blossom County, Antriksh Golf View, Ajnara Grand Heritage, Prateek Wisteria, NRI City Homes, and Logix Blossom Zest, among others. As per the reply, prosecution proceedings have been initiated against 34 of the identified societies. Of these, environmental compensation amounting to Rs 27 crore has been imposed on 30. Notices were sent to the rest. However, the board stated it had no data in its records on how much of the fines were actually recovered. The current status of these cases in the special court was not available with the office. Lack of CTOs does not necessarily mean that societies do not have functional STPs. On the other hand, in some cases, it may also indicate that societies never had STPs to begin with. Additionally, many of them lack Occupancy Certificates (OC) and Completion Certificates (CC), pointing to a major procedural failure. For example, Gupta's society, Prateek Wisteria, does not have a CTO but has had a functional STP since 2019. "A large number of societies do not have CTOs to operate STPs, which suggests that occupancy and completion certificates were issued without the Authority verifying the status of STPs. Of these 43 societies, about 60%-70% are located in sectors 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78. Many of them cannot even install STPs now due to lack of space within the premises and insufficient funds, as the builder has already handed over the project. The Authority should intervene and lay a separate sewage pipeline connecting these societies to the nearest operational STP in Sector 50," Gupta told TOI. Pointing out the lack of coordination between the UPPCB and the Noida Authority, Gupta stated, "The Authority and the pollution control board are not working together on this issue. They conduct inspections separately and impose fines independently. Often, they are not even aware of each other's actions. Also, the responsibility of establishing STPs and obtaining CTOs lies with the builder, as per the law. It is not the responsibility of the AOA." Meanwhile, Noida Authority officials said they are monitoring societies flouting environmental norms. Noida CEO Lokesh M said, "OC/CCs are issued after checking whether societies have facilities such as STPs, fire safety, and lift clearances. It is more of an operational issue, as the societies fail to run these facilities properly after homebuyers start living there. The Authority takes action as public health is at stake. However, it is the pollution control board's primary responsibility to impose fines and take legal action. As far as the Authority is concerned, we will continue with our enforcement drive." In a recent drive, the Authority took action against eight societies that either lacked functional STPs or were discharging untreated sewage into open drains, bypassing norms that require treated water to be released into sewer lines. These included RG Residency in Sector 120, Sikka Karmic in Sector 78, Lotus Boulevard in Sector 100, Lotus Panache in Sector 110, Purvanchal Royal Park in Sector 137, Aims Max Gardenia in Sector 75, Prateek Stylome in Sector 45, and Amrapali Silicon City in Sector 76. The drive also extended to Maharishi Ashram near Lotus Panache. The Authority wrote to the registrar of firms, societies, and chits in Meerut seeking cancellation of registration for both the Ashram and the Panache society. However, the Allahabad High Court stayed coercive action against RG Residency. Noida officials said that an environmental cell has been formed to verify whether STPs have been installed. The cell has been asked to compile data on STPs in all group housing societies. As per rules, all residential societies with a floor area of 20,000 sqm or more must have an STP. No new OC is currently being issued without verifying the CTO for the society's STP, officials added.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
43 Noida condos lack pollution board nod to operate STPs
Noida: An RTI reply has revealed that 43 group housing societies in the city lack the mandatory consent to operate (CTO) for their sewage treatment plants (STPs). CTO is a mandatory authorisation issued by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. It permits industries, commercial establishments, and group housing societies to operate their facilities while ensuring that their emissions, effluents, and waste management systems comply with environmental standards. Amit Gupta, a resident of Prateek Wisteria in Sector 77, had filed an RTI application on April 29 asking the pollution control board for the list of societies without CTOs, the action taken against them, fines imposed and recovered, and the names of those societies against which cases were filed in the Special Pollution Court in Lucknow. In its reply dated May 20, UPPCB stated that 43 group housing societies did not obtain the required CTO for their STPs. The list included prominent names such as Lotus Boulevard, Supertech Capetown, Sikka Karmic, Logix Blossom County, Antriksh Golf View, Ajnara Grand Heritage, Prateek Wisteria, NRI City Homes, and Logix Blossom Zest, among others. As per the reply, prosecution proceedings have been initiated against 34 of the identified societies. Of these, environmental compensation amounting to Rs 27 crore has been imposed on 30. Notices were sent to the rest. However, the board stated it had no data in its records on how much of the fines were actually recovered. The current status of these cases in the special court was not available with the office. Lack of CTOs does not necessarily mean that societies do not have functional STPs. On the other hand, in some cases, it may also indicate that societies never had STPs to begin with. Additionally, many of them lack Occupancy Certificates (OC) and Completion Certificates (CC), pointing to a major procedural failure. For example, Gupta's society, Prateek Wisteria, does not have a CTO but has had a functional STP since 2019. "A large number of societies do not have CTOs to operate STPs, which suggests that occupancy and completion certificates were issued without the Authority verifying the status of STPs. Of these 43 societies, about 60%-70% are located in sectors 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78. Many of them cannot even install STPs now due to lack of space within the premises and insufficient funds, as the builder has already handed over the project. The Authority should intervene and lay a separate sewage pipeline connecting these societies to the nearest operational STP in Sector 50," Gupta told TOI. Pointing out the lack of coordination between the UPPCB and the Noida Authority, Gupta stated, "The Authority and the pollution control board are not working together on this issue. They conduct inspections separately and impose fines independently. Often, they are not even aware of each other's actions. Also, the responsibility of establishing STPs and obtaining CTOs lies with the builder, as per the law. It is not the responsibility of the AOA. " Meanwhile, Noida Authority officials said they are monitoring societies flouting environmental norms. Noida CEO Lokesh M said, "OC/CCs are issued after checking whether societies have facilities such as STPs, fire safety, and lift clearances. It is more of an operational issue, as the societies fail to run these facilities properly after homebuyers start living there. The Authority takes action as public health is at stake. However, it is the pollution control board's primary responsibility to impose fines and take legal action. As far as the Authority is concerned, we will continue with our enforcement drive." In a recent drive, the Authority took action against eight societies that either lacked functional STPs or were discharging untreated sewage into open drains, bypassing norms that require treated water to be released into sewer lines. These included RG Residency in Sector 120, Sikka Karmic in Sector 78, Lotus Boulevard in Sector 100, Lotus Panache in Sector 110, Purvanchal Royal Park in Sector 137, Aims Max Gardenia in Sector 75, Prateek Stylome in Sector 45, and Amrapali Silicon City in Sector 76. The drive also extended to Maharishi Ashram near Lotus Panache. The Authority wrote to the registrar of firms, societies, and chits in Meerut seeking cancellation of registration for both the Ashram and the Panache society. However, the Allahabad High Court stayed coercive action against RG Residency. Noida officials said that an environmental cell has been formed to verify whether STPs have been installed. The cell has been asked to compile data on STPs in all group housing societies. As per rules, all residential societies with a floor area of 20,000 sqm or more must have an STP. No new OC is currently being issued without verifying the CTO for the society's STP, officials added.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Mohali observes mock drill under Operation Shield
1 2 3 Mohali: As soon as an air raid siren was sounded, emergency response teams rushed to the building of BPCL's storage-cum-bottling plant of compressed LPG at Lalru on Saturday evening around 6 pm. This was an emergency scenario created by the district administration Mohali at the BPCL plant to check the preparedness of emergency response time under Operation Shield. The operation was supervised by a senior PCS officer and an ex-serviceman Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, additional deputy commissioner (rural development). He said the mock drill planned here was to simulate emergency response procedures for rescuing individuals present at the site. SDM Derabassi Amit Gupta said the drill included the Home Guards (Civil Defence), NDRF, firefighting and medical teams, and local administration. The number of stranded persons was 20, who were rescued from inside by the teams and rushed to designated health facilities by ambulances. Deputy commissioner Komal Mittal said the drill was to check the preparedness and real response time. A blackout was also planned from 8 pm to 8.30 pm as a part of this mock drill in Derabassi and Lalru towns (municipal limits), barring emergency services establishments like hospitals and nursing homes.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Probe ordered into Kedar ‘construction violations's
Dehradun: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to investigate complaints of environmental violations linked to ongoing construction near the Kedarnath temple. The directive follows a complaint filed by Noida-based Amit Gupta, who raised concerns about unchecked construction activities disrupting the area and endangering pilgrims. Gupta alleged that construction materials, including sand, have been dumped openly right opposite the main temple, while unattended iron bars at the newly constructed Sangam Ghat are obstructing river flow and contributing to pollution. "There are also protruding steel rods posing a serious safety hazard. Pilgrims are facing inconvenience due to these issues," he told TOI. Gupta added, "Small crushers and stone cutting units are working continuously on the river side and even on the 2013 flood route which is not only impacting the sensitive ecology of the area but also polluting the water flowing near it. Pilgrims have also pointed out open garbage dumping around the temple and helipad premises and filthy state of public washrooms." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like CFD: Invertir $100 con IA podría devolverte un segundo salario Digital Group Prueba ahora Undo He also pointed out poor drainage near the stairway connecting the helipad bridge to the temple, resulting in water accumulation along a key route. "This poses a significant challenge, especially for elderly visitors, and needs urgent attention," Gupta said, blaming the situation on the negligence brought about by hasty construction work. Acting on the complaint, the CPCB issued a letter on May 29, directing the state pollution control board to take necessary corrective measures and report back within 30 days. In response, Public Works Department (PWD) officials acknowledged the issues and attributed them to a "contractor's negligence" during ongoing development. "Instructions have been issued to remove the construction material. Although work at the Sangam Ghat was completed last year, leftover steel bars will be cut and cleared shortly to ensure pilgrim safety," said the executive engineer from PWD's Guptkashi office. Officials also said that work at the arrival plaza near the Om stairs is still pending. Installation of flooring stones, crucial to managing water flow, has been delayed due to the yatra. "For safety reasons, construction cannot proceed during the pilgrimage season. It will resume as soon as the yatra subsides," they added. Dehradun: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to investigate complaints of environmental violations linked to ongoing construction near the Kedarnath temple. The directive follows a complaint filed by Noida-based Amit Gupta, who raised concerns about unchecked construction activities disrupting the area and endangering pilgrims. Gupta alleged that construction materials, including sand, have been dumped openly right opposite the main temple, while unattended iron bars at the newly constructed Sangam Ghat are obstructing river flow and contributing to pollution. "There are also protruding steel rods posing a serious safety hazard. Pilgrims are facing inconvenience due to these issues," he told TOI. Gupta added, "Small crushers and stone cutting units are working continuously on the river side and even on the 2013 flood route which is not only impacting the sensitive ecology of the area but also polluting the water flowing near it. Pilgrims have also pointed out open garbage dumping around the temple and helipad premises and filthy state of public washrooms." He also pointed out poor drainage near the stairway connecting the helipad bridge to the temple, resulting in water accumulation along a key route. "This poses a significant challenge, especially for elderly visitors, and needs urgent attention," Gupta said, blaming the situation on the negligence brought about by hasty construction work. Acting on the complaint, the CPCB issued a letter on May 29, directing the state pollution control board to take necessary corrective measures and report back within 30 days. In response, Public Works Department (PWD) officials acknowledged the issues and attributed them to a "contractor's negligence" during ongoing development. "Instructions have been issued to remove the construction material. Although work at the Sangam Ghat was completed last year, leftover steel bars will be cut and cleared shortly to ensure pilgrim safety," said the executive engineer from PWD's Guptkashi office. Officials also said that work at the arrival plaza near the Om stairs is still pending. Installation of flooring stones, crucial to managing water flow, has been delayed due to the yatra. "For safety reasons, construction cannot proceed during the pilgrimage season. It will resume as soon as the yatra subsides," they added.
Business Standard
26-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Air India flight emergency prompts call for better medical kits onboard
When a medical emergency struck mid-air on Air India flight AI504 recently, one doctor sprang into action to help the unwell passenger. But what followed was a wake-up call about the serious gaps in the airline's medical preparedness. Dr Amit Gupta, chair of the IDF School of Diabetes, who attended to the ailing passenger, later stated that the aircraft lacked essential diagnostic tools such as a pulse oximeter, glucose monitor and ECG machine. Dr Gupta emphasised that these tools are crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention during in-flight medical emergencies. He shared his concerns on social media on Saturday, stating, 'Perhaps time to consider adding these life-saving tools to the kit?' Air India responds to the concern raised by doctor What are the DGCA rules on onboard medical kits? The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandates that all Indian-registered commercial aircraft carry specific medical supplies in accordance with the Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 2 'Airworthiness', Series 'X' Part III. These kits are intended to address in-flight health emergencies and include items like bandages, antiseptic wipes and pain relievers. What do ICAO rules recommend for medical kits? According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations body that works on international air transport, aeroplanes authorised to carry more than 100 passengers on flights longer than two hours must have a medical kit for use by medical doctors or other qualified persons in treating in-flight emergencies. However, the inclusion of advanced diagnostic tools like pulse oximeters and portable ECG devices is not currently mandated. Are passengers allowed to carry medical devices onboard? Passengers are allowed to carry personal medical devices and medications onboard, subject to certain conditions. Items such as insulin, inhalers or EpiPens must be declared at check-in or security, and passengers should carry prescriptions for any injectable medications or devices like syringes. For devices like portable oxygen concentrators (POCs), prior airline approval is required. For more health updates, follow #HealthWithBS
