Buildings with 20 flats get STP relief

Following protests by apartment dwellers, the government on Thursday agreed to relax the rule on sewage treatment plants (STPs) for complexes with less than 20 units by scrapping the retrospective clause.

The relaxation, however, does not apply to apartment complexes with 50 and more units.  

At a meeting with representatives of the Federation of Apartment Associations Bengaluru (FAAB), Bengaluru Development Minister K J George said an order on setting up STPs would be relaxed for existing apartments that have less than 20 flats.

George told reporters that the order would be suspended temporarily. "However STPs are mandatory for apartments in areas not connected to the underground drainage network," he said.

The federation noted that building and maintaining STPs in old apartments with less than 20 flats was not viable due to the high cost of installation and operation. They said they do not have any objection if the rule is prospective.

The government had issued an order making STPs compulsory for apartments with 20 units built after January 2016.

“BBMP has also sought a relaxation in the order. However, such relaxations are not possible since the pollution control board and National Green Tribunal have made STP mandatory,” he said.

George said he would bring up the matter with the chief minister and issue an order, making STPs compulsory for all apartment complexes with over 50 units and upcoming buildings with more than 20 houses.

“Representatives of apartments federation have also agreed to the rule that prospective apartments will not get occupancy certificate if they do not include an STP,” he said.