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Time of India
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Power disconnection stayed, flats get time to install STPs
Kochi: Apartment complexes that were served disconnection notices by Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for failing to install sewage treatment plants (STPs) received temporary relief, as pollution control board (PCB) decided to grant them more time to comply. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The decision follows a directive from high court, offering a breather to the affected residential buildings. KSEB issued disconnection notices to 71 residential apartment complexes across the city for failing to install STPs in compliance with PCB guidelines. The decision, which threatened to cut off electricity to over 1,500 households within a week, sparked widespread concern among residents. When high court considered the suo motu case regarding the pollution of Thevara – Perandoor Canal, it also took into account the impleading petitions filed by different associations of affected apartment complexes and asked PCB to consider granting the petitioners reasonable time. "Considering the main purpose of initiating suo motu petition is to address the environmental hazards caused by the accumulation of filth and garbage in the canal, as regards the grievance of the applicant noticees concerning the short time given by pollution control board for compliance, we direct that if an undertaking (along with resolutions in case of companies/societies) is submitted by the noticees (even other than the applicants) seeking reasonable time for compliance, the pollution control board will consider granting such reasonable time, provided the undertaking expresses a genuine intention of compliance," said the court order. In the backdrop of the court order, the Consortium of Flat and Villa Owners Association, Kerala will convene a meeting of the affected families residing in 71 apartment complexes soon and each family will approach PCB with an affidavit or seek time for installing STPs. "Only three or four affected parties approached court. But the order is applicable to all. So, we have decided to approach PCB seeking extension of time. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Each apartment association can demand time as per their requirement. We will coordinate the activities," said Saju Abraham, chairman of the consortium. A senior official of KSPCB told TOI that they decided to accept undertakings from affected parties and KSPCB would grant proper time after examining conditions given in the undertakings. HC will consider the case at the next hearing on Sept 11, and the consortium is planning to sort out the issues by submitting the undertakings to PCB before the date. T J Vinod, MLA, strongly criticised KSEB, PCB and the municipality for issuing the notice. He said that he would bring the issue to the notice of chief minister. "PCB does not even have a list of approved agencies to establish STPs. Some flats received notice last month and are in the process of setting up sewage treatment systems, which could take up to 12 months to complete," said the MLA. All the flats that received the notice were built when these regulations were not in place. The municipality's action of leaving these residents, who trusted the occupancy certificate provided by the municipality and started living in the flats, was unacceptable, stated the MLA.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
KSEB issues disconnection notices to 71 apartment complexes in Kochi for not installing STPs
Kochi: Kerala state electricity board (KSEB) issued disconnection notices to 71 residential apartment complexes across city for failing to install sewage treatment plants (STPs) in compliance with Kerala state pollution control board (KSPCB) guidelines. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The notice, which warns to cut off electricity to over 1,500 households within a week, sparked widespread concern among residents. Many say it is not practical for them to set up STPs in a short time period due to space and financial constraints. Notices were issued to apartment complexes located in Kaloor, Elamakkara, Vennala, Vyttila, Kadavanthra, Chilavannoor, Panampilly Nagar, Padivattom, Edappally, Perumanoor, Pachalam, Kathrikadavu, Chembumukku, SRM Road, Ponekkara, Ponnurunni, Vaduthala, Thevara and South Chittoor areas. It is learned that KSEB action is a follow-up of KSPCB issuing closure notices to the apartment complexes. As per KSPCB guideline, STPs are mandatory for all buildings constructed on plots exceeding 2,000 sq m. KSPCB issued the directive following orders from National Green Tribunal (NGT) and high court directing authorities to curb illegal discharge of untreated water into canals in the city. In the first week of July, the board issued notices to "close down apartments and vacate the premises within 15 days of receipt of the notice in order to stop generation and discharge of liquid waste (sewage and sullage) from apartments to avoid further pollution". The KSEB notice states that it is being issued as per Kerala Electricity Supply Code Regulation 138 (1) (e) and Regulation 139 (4), following the directive from KSPCB on July 23. Meanwhile, representatives of various apartment associations pointed out that KSPCB issued a circular on April 22, 2010, making it mandatory for apartment projects above 2,000 sq m to provide STPs. Many apartments that the builder handed over before that period were without STPs, and there are space limitations in old apartments to construct STPs now. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Most of the apartments which have no STPs are giving effluents to licensed tankers, and they are treated in PCB-approved two common STPs owned and operated by KWA and GCDA. It is not practical for apartment associations to set up STPs in a short period of one or two months. We agree with the PCB demand. But many apartments are struggling due to lack of space and the huge amount needed to set up STPs," said Consortium of Flat and Villa Owners Association, Kerala (COFVOAK) chairman Saju Abraham. He also added that KSEB has no legal right to cut off individual electricity connections and the association will approach chief minister demanding a solution for the issue. It was on Thursday morning that Malabar Gate residents' association secretary Vimal Gopinathan received the notice from KSEB. "We have contacted KSEB and PCB officials. But they are helpless as it was a directive from high court and NGT. Only 20 families are residing here. But we have no space to set up STP," he said. Meanwhile, Thomas Kadavan, a resident of Kent Illam apartment complex in Vennala, said the apartment complex, which has 114 units including 12 villas, received notice three days ago and people are hopeful that authorities will find an alternate solution. "KWA's STP at Elamkulam and GCDA's STP at Kaloor are underutilized. In addition to this, a major common STP project is coming up under IURWTS project of KMRL. That can be used for apartments in future. So, as a temporary solution, apartments not having STPs can give an undertaking to PCB that effluents will be given for treatment only in PCB-approved STPs of KWA and GCDA," he said. Meanwhile, KSEB authorities have informed that they will go ahead with the procedures as per the directive from PCB.
