Pollution dept gives developer clean chit

Accused of violating environmental and pollution norms, the developer of gated community Malibu Towne has been given a clean chit by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Sanjeev K Ahuja reports.

Accused of violating environmental and pollution norms, the developer of gated community Malibu Towne has been given a clean chit by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).

HT Image

The local residents' welfare association (RWA) had indicted Malibu Estate Private Limited of dumping sewage water in the rainwater harvesting pits and polluting groundwater in January.

In its report, the pollution department has stated that sewage effluents were discharged into the stormwater drain and groundwater was not affected. The complainant body has, however, refused to accept the HSPCB report and have decided to file a counter complaint against the department to higher authorities.

On January 22 and 24, a HSPCB team had inspected the spot in Malibu Towne and collected samples of the sewage water as well as groundwater discharge from a borewell.

The letter sent to the RWA, which residents claim they have not received yet, has bailed out the builder, stating that the rainwater harvesting pit was checked in the presence of RWA members.

The letter further stated: "It was found that no sewage effluent was being discharged into the rainwater harvesting pit of the township. Instead, effluents were found being discharged into the stormwater drain which ultimately percolates to the low lying areas of the township. Samples were collected from discharge point and the borewell and as per the results, no contamination was observed in the tubewell water."