Captain Satyender Kumar Singh vs State Of Rajasthan Through The ...

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The applicant, a resident of Jaipur, filed an Original Application before the National Green Tribunal, Central Zone Bench at Bhopal, alleging non-functioning and mismanagement of a 30 Million Litre Per Day Sewage Treatment Plant installed at Gajadharpura, Kalwar Road, Jaipur, constructed by the Jaipur Development Authority. It was complained that untreated sewage effluent was being discharged on open land, causing environmental damage and health hazards to the public, in violation of Section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

The Tribunal, upon admission, constituted a Joint Committee comprising representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board and the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board to conduct a site inspection and submit a factual and action-taken report. The Joint Committee visited the STP on 8 December 2021 and submitted its report dated 3 January 2022, noting that the plant was operational with an average flow of 25 MLD, but observed white colour froth and foaming at the point of discharge of treated wastewater, raising concerns about the quality of treatment.

The matter raised important questions regarding the statutory obligations of pollution control authorities and development bodies to ensure proper functioning of sewage treatment infrastructure, prevent discharge of untreated effluents into water bodies and on open land, and protect environmental and public health standards in accordance with applicable environmental laws.

Catchwords: Sewage Treatment Plant untreated sewage environmental pollution National Green Tribunal Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act Jaipur Development Authority Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board Consent to Operate Activated Sludge Process River Bandi groundwater contamination environmental compensation health hazard