Pollution norms stall home dream

Pollution norms stall home dream


First Published : 20 Jul 2009 06:57:05 AM ISTLast Updated : 20 Jul 2009 03:12:11 PM IST
BANGALORE: The homes are built and the payments have been made.
And yet, the dream home is turning to be elusive for many Bangaloreans.
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has thrown a spanner in their works by withholding the ‘Consent For Operation’ for some of the apartment complexes. The reason is that some builders have failed to show the source of drinking water to those apartments as mentioned by the Board.
Unless the builders get the CFO, the flats cannot be handed over to the buyers.
It is the norm
● According to the prevailing norms, a builder has to obtain a ‘Consent For Establishment’ from the KSPCB at the time of construction if the structure is more than 5,000 sq ft in area.
● A builder should also obtain the CFO and environment clearance after completing the structure if it is more than 20,000 sq ft.
● A builder should establish their own sewage treatment plant, garbage disposal system and the source of drinking water to the apartments if they are more than 25 flats in the apartment complex.
● KSPCB’s norms do not permit the builders to drill bore wells to draw water for these apartments. Therefore, the builders had applied for Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s (BWSSB) water supply.
Source of trouble The BWSSB has given a consent to supply drinking water to these apartments in 2012 after the completion of Cauvery Stage IV Phase II if there is sufficient water to supply. Some of the builders have completed their projects according to the prevailing norms, but there is no drinking water supply to these apartments.
Hence KSPCB has denied CFO to these apartments and the builders are not in a position to give possession of these flats to the buyers.
A BWSSB offical said, “We had stated that we would be in a position to supply drinking water to these apartments only in 2012 and not now. They have to wait till then for BWSSB’s water supply.” KSPCB Member Secretary MS Gouder said, “We are not supposed to give CFO to these apartments till they show us the source of drinking water supply. We have to sit with the builders and explore the possibilities of supplying drinking water to these apartments.”