Subject: Criteria for grant of consents to Sewage Treatment Plants (STP's) installed by Department o

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No. 38] CHANDIGARH, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 (BHADRA 27, 1948 SAKA)

PART I

Punjab Government Notifications and Orders

GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT

(STE Branch)

NOTIFICATION

The 12th June, 2023

No, STE-STEB010/26/2023-STE4/575621.-

Subject: Criteria for grant of consents to Sewage Treatment Plants (STP's) installed by Department of Local Government in the State of Punjab.

According to the provisions of Section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, no person shall without the previous consent of the State Pollution Control Board establish or operate any Industry, operation or process or any treatment and disposal system. Sub-Section (2) of the Section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Sub-Section (2) of Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 provides that the application for consent shall be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed. Punjab Pollution Control Board, may grant consent under the provisions of the said Acts with suitable conditions.

2) Punjab Pollution Control Board in its 190 meeting held on 30.09.2022, approved the criteria for grant of consents to Sewage Treatment Plants installed by the Department of Local Bodies in the State of Punjab.

3) According to the categorization of industries, the operation and processes of Sewage Treatment Plant irrespective of their capacity and technology used for treatment falls under Red Category. Accordingly, the following criteria shall be adopted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board for grant of consents to Sewage Treatment Plants installed by the Department of Local Bodies in the State of Punjab:

(i) Separate applications for consent to operate for the operation of existing Sewage Treatment Plants are required to be filed for each STP by the Local Authority.

(ii) The consent fee will be charged on the capacity of STP on MLD basis @ Rs. 2500/MLD capacity of STP per annum, with a minimum fee of Rs. 10,000/- perSTP per annum.

(iv) In the first instance, the consent will be granted for the operation of outlet of STPS for one year with suitable conditions to the effect that:-

a) The ULB shall ensure compliance w.r.t. timeline proposed in the action plan submitted to Hon'ble National Green Tribunal.

b) The treated waste water from the STPS must conform to the prescribedstandards.

c) The concerned local body shall provide proper and adequate arrangements for collection and disposal of sludge generated from the STPS.

(v) In case, the Local Body fails to apply for Consent to Operate (CTO) or its renewal within the stipulated period/expiry of previous consent, the penalty will be charged as per table below :

Sr. No. Timeframe for applying consent

Penalty

1. Within 3 months

10% of one year fee 2. Within 3 months to 6 months

25% of one year fee 3. Within 6 months to 9 months

50% of one year fee 4. Within 9 months to 12 months

100% of one year fee (vi) The penalty clause shall not be enforced for the STPs provided by the ULBs/Municipal Corporations/ Municipal Councils/Military Defense organizations or by any other Government agency.

(vii) In case, the operation of Sewage Treatment Plant is outsourced to some private agency and the consent application has been filed by that agency, then penalty clause shall be invoked.

(viii) The consent processing fee shall be applicable to all Sewage Treatment Plants irrespective of capacity with effect from the date of notification.

The policy aforesaid shall come into force from the date of its publication.

Chandigarh

Secretary to Government of Punjab,

Department of Science, Technology & Environment

3829$9-2026/Pb. Govt. Press, S.A.S. Nagar