The Allahabad High Court has directed the Noida Authority to file a detailed affidavit by July 16 explaining the sewage treatment infrastructure at Lotus Boulevard, a prominent residential society in Sector 100, Noida. The court’s directive, issued on July 7 and made public on Sunday, came in response to a petition filed by the society’s Apartment Owners Association (AOA), which alleged that Occupancy Certificates (OCs) were issued despite inadequate sewage treatment facilities.
The AOA contends that when OCs were granted in 2012 and 2016, only one-and-a-half sewage treatment plants (STPs) were partially constructed, whereas four fully functional STPs were mandated under building regulations. Residents say this failure has resulted in persistent sewage problems over the past decade.
A bench comprising Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Vinod Diwakar has asked the Chief Executive Officer of the Noida Authority to submit an affidavit detailing:
- The number of STPs required under building bylaws at the time of OC issuance
- The actual STP infrastructure constructed by the developer
- The present operational status of the STPs
- The names and designations of officials who approved the OCs
- Any corrective or remedial actions taken by the authority or any appointed resolution professional
The bench emphasized the need for accountability, noting that the affidavit must clearly outline the historical and current state of the STP infrastructure and the extent of compliance with statutory requirements.
In response to the allegations, RP Singh, General Manager of the Water Works Department at Noida Authority, stated, “We will file a detailed reply as per the court order. Without the STP function, the authority does not issue OC. Thus, the allegations made by the AOA are not correct.”
The dispute at Lotus Boulevard comes against the backdrop of a broader crackdown launched by the Noida Authority in April against housing societies found operating non-functional STPs or discharging untreated sewage into stormwater drains.
Despite multiple attempts, representatives of the Apartment Owners Association and the developer could not be reached for comment.
The matter remains sub judice and is scheduled for further hearing on July 16.
