Greater Noida Authority Imposes Heavy Penalty on Builder for Environmental Violations
The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has taken stringent action against Ajnara Homes in Sector 16B, imposing a substantial penalty of Rs 50 lakh for operating a non-functional sewage treatment plant (STP) and discharging untreated sewage into local drains. This enforcement action highlights growing concerns about environmental compliance in rapidly developing urban areas.
Multiple Violations Uncovered During Inspection
During comprehensive checks conducted by GNIDA officials, multiple environmental violations were discovered at the Ajnara Homes residential society, which comprises approximately 2,300 flats and generates an estimated 1.15 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. The inspection revealed that the society's sewage treatment plant had been completely non-functional for two years, leading to untreated sewage being discharged directly into drainage systems.
The situation escalated recently when the drainage system became choked, causing sewage to overflow into the basements of neighboring homes, creating significant health hazards and inconvenience for residents. This incident prompted immediate complaints from affected homeowners, which subsequently triggered the official investigation.
Systematic Enforcement Drive Against Non-Compliance
This action forms part of a broader enforcement initiative directed by GNIDA CEO NG Ravi Kumar, who had instructed the sewerage department to issue notices to all builder societies in the region. The notices specifically requested detailed information regarding the installed capacity and operational status of their sewage treatment plants, along with documentation about how treated sewage water was being reused for irrigation and other purposes.
Sunil Kumar Singh, GNIDA Additional Chief Executive Officer, explained the sequence of events: "We had sought comprehensive information from the builder regarding the installed capacity and operational status of the STP, the total residential population, and the reuse of treated sewage. However, no details were provided despite repeated requests. Following persistent complaints from residents, a specialized team led by a senior manager from the sewerage department conducted an on-site inspection and confirmed that the STP was completely non-functional."
Additional Penalties for Solid Waste Management Failures
Beyond the sewage treatment violations, GNIDA's health department identified additional compliance issues related to solid waste management. The authority imposed a further fine of Rs 4.32 lakh on Ajnara Homes for failing to implement proper solid waste management protocols as required by municipal regulations.
Officials also noted that the society had violated environmental norms by extracting groundwater for irrigation purposes without appropriate authorization, compounding their regulatory non-compliance.
Violation of National and State Environmental Norms
These multiple violations contravene directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as well as established norms from both the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). The regulatory framework mandates that all residential complexes of significant size must operate functional sewage treatment plants and ensure proper disposal or reuse of treated water.
In response to these serious lapses, GNIDA has directed the builder to deposit the Rs 50 lakh penalty within seven working days and has issued strict instructions to immediately make the sewage treatment plant operational. The authority has further mandated that the builder must ensure treated sewage is properly reused for irrigation and other approved purposes moving forward.
Broader Context of Sewage Management in Noida Region
This enforcement action occurs against a backdrop of ongoing challenges in sewage management across the Noida region. According to recent NGT reports, Noida currently utilizes approximately 86 MLD of treated STP water, representing only about 33% of total sewage generated, while the remaining 178 MLD continues to be discharged untreated into drains and water bodies.
GNIDA has issued a renewed appeal to all builder societies in Greater Noida to ensure their sewage treatment plants are fully operational and that treated water is appropriately reused for irrigation and other non-potable purposes. This initiative aims to improve environmental sustainability and public health standards in one of India's fastest-growing urban regions.
The authority's decisive action against Ajnara Homes serves as a strong warning to other developers and residential societies about the serious consequences of environmental non-compliance, particularly regarding sewage treatment and waste management systems that directly impact community health and ecological balance.
