Chennai: All building construction projects having a built-up area of more than 20,000 square metre will have to seek prior environmental clearance (EC) from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority-Tamil Nadu.
Making the announcement on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPSC) requested all the stakeholders to comply with environmental standards with a view to protecting the water bodies and environment.
Multi-storied apartment buildings, IT Parks and commercial establishments having built-up area more than 20,000 sq.m, after getting EC, should obtain consent to establish (CTE) from TNPCB under Section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
While granting CTE, TNPCB would impose various conditions like setting up sewage treatment plant (STP), providing online continuous effluent quality monitoring system (OCEMS) and connecting the same to water quality watch, the press release said.
TNPSC would also ensure proper collection and management of solid wastes, providing rain water harvesting facilities, and providing acoustic control measures to the DG sets too.
After establishment of the project, consent to operate (CTO) has to be obtained from TNPCB, which would ensure effective operation and maintenance of the facilities efficiently and continuously to satisfy/adhere to prescribed standards.
The measures aimed at ensuring that the STPs were operated effectively since complaints were often received of untreated sewage being discharged into nearby storm water drain, vacant land, water bodies and causing pollution or transported in tanker lorries and dumped on the roadside drains, water bodies, it said.
The consent obtained from the TNPSC should also be regularly renewed and single use plastic should not be used in the premises, the press release said, adding that surprise inspections would be carried out and those not complying with the norms taken to task.
