PUNE: The residents of River Residency are up in arms against Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) decision to go ahead with Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) being built in blue line zone of Indrayani river near Chikhali. The residents have already approached National Green Tribunal (NGT) stating violation of blue line zone. However, according to the Irrigation Department’s GR, STP can be constructed in the river bank even in blue line zone.
The NGT has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) Regional Officer Dilip Khedkar. Khedkar will submit his report to NGT in 15 days. The PCMC has however claimed that the STP is part of Development Plan (DP) made in 2008.
Manoj Marathe, Chairman of River Residency N2, which is situated next to the Indrayani river bank where STP is being constructed, said, “How can PCMC make any construction if the area is in blue line zone? The construction is causing us a lot of problems since the day we moved in. The builder had informed us that the area comes under green zone and now, this construction work is going on.”
Another resident Jayesh Parmar, said, “We have approached the PCMC regarding the same issue eight months ago and requested Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar to stop the construction as it is a violation of blue line zone and we have to face issues like voice and air pollution due to it. But the commissioner has not replied to us yet.”
The residents then approached the NGT.
Hardikar told Sakal Times that May 2018 GR by Irrigation Department in its 7th point mentioned that STP can be constructed on the river bank.
Hardikar also said that Chikhali was one of the 18 villages merged in PCMC limits in 1997 and the State government had approved the Development Plan (DP) for the villages in 2008. “The DP had list of plots reserved for roads, hospitals, gardens, STPs and others. And according to the DP, PCMC can construct a STP at the river bank,” he said.
Khedkar said, “There is no STP for Chikhali area. Every day, 35 MLD of waste is generated. We are in the process of preparing a report and in the next fortnight, a report will be submitted to the NGT.”
Hardikar said, “There is no point in residents protesting the construction of STP. There was no STP for Chikhali area. Now, we are constructing one, then I don’t understand what is the problem?.”
SALIENT FACTS
- The project of STP was proposed in PCMC before 2015
- PCMC had started constructing a compound wall for STP in 2015-2016
- Chikhali STP situated at Indrayani river bank will be of 12 MLD
- The STP will be completed by 2020
