Gurgaon: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slammed the Haryana chief secretary, state pollution board chairman, deputy commissioner and developer for failing to take concrete action to stop release of untreated sewage into vacant plots near residential areas in Sector 67 by a condominium built by the realtor even two and a half months after the tribunals directive.The situation isnt conducive to success and cannot be appreciated, the tribunal said in its latest order. On October 18, the state pollution control board (HSPCB) imposed environmental compensation of Rs 3.4 crore on the developer for discharging untreated sewage into vacant plots.Ansal Esencia, where builder Ansal API had started handing over flats in 2012-13, was supposed to develop three sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a capacity to treat a total of 4,700 kilo litres of sewage per day (KLD). According to HSPCB, only two STPs of 65 KLD were set up.By an order dated May 30, 2023, it was found appropriate to constitute a joint committee to submit a factual report. The joint committee submitted a report verifying non-compliance of environmental laws and norms on the part of the developer and also stating that an environmental compensation of Rs. 3.4 crore for not obtaining consent to operate also and for discharging untreated effluent/sewage on the open land, has been recommended by HSPCB… But we find that despite the passing of two and a half months, no final order has been passed till date. This situation is not con-ducive and cannot be appreciated, the order of December 8 by judicial magistrate Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel, stated.Be that as it may, before proceeding further we find it appropriate to implead the following as respondents — state of Haryana through chief secretary, Haryana State Pollution Control Board through its chairman, Gurgaon district magistrate and Ansal API. Let notice be issued to unrepresented respondents. Respondents are directed to file their response within four weeks, the order stated.According to a senior official from the Haryana government, action will be taken soon. We will submit a reply within four weeks as directed by NGT, the official said.Ansal API representatives couldnt be reached for a comment despite several attempts by TOI.In April, the societys RWA had approached NGT, alleging that STPs had not been constructed in violation of the terms of environmental clearance granted to the developer.After an inspection on August 22, the joint committee of HSPCB officials, district magistrate and members of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) concluded in their report that the two sewage treatment plants at the housing complex were lying abandoned. This, it said, violated the environmental clearance granted to the developer on August 20, 2018.The project proponent and developer of the said complex has not installed the required STPs, leave aside their operations, to comply with the environmental condition as stipulated in the consent to operate. This eventually also violates the condition of recycling the treated sewage for non-potable use, thereby increasing the load on the water environment, the report submitted to NGT on October 17 said.

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