The Karnataka High Court on Monday ordered issue of notices to the State government, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and others on a PIL petition challenging the rule, which makes installation of sewage treatment plants (STPs) mandatory even for existing apartments with 20 or more units.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar passed the order on the petition filed by Federation of Apartment Associations, Bengaluru.
The petitioner-association has contended that the apartments constructed prior to the BWSSB’s 2016 notification were built adhering to the prevalent rules and regulations. Forcing installation of STPs in such apartments would result in violation of building by-laws and affect various other civic amenities.
The petitioner pointed out that installation of STPs in the existing apartments is not feasible, both practically and financially, due to lack of space, problem of disposing the sludge, inability to utilise the entire quantity of treated water generated from the STP and other constraints.
The petitioner has questioned the legality of imposition of hefty penalties on existing apartments for not installing STPs while terming such norms as arbitrary and illegal.
