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Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has raised concerns over compliance gaps in residential and commercial projects in Zirakpur and urged developers to strictly follow environmental clearance conditions. During an interaction with builders, the board emphasised adherence to pollution control measures, sewage treatment requirements, rainwater harvesting systems and waste management practices. The exercise forms part of a broader effort to strengthen environmental governance in one of the fastest-growing urban centres in the Mohali region. Authorities also highlighted the need for improved coordination between regulators and developers to ensure sustainable urban development.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has flagged shortcomings in environmental compliance among real estate projects in Zirakpur and called upon developers to strengthen adherence to environmental clearance (EC) conditions amid rapid urban expansion in the town. The issue was discussed during an interactive meeting organised by the board with representatives of the Builder Welfare Association, where officials outlined key areas requiring greater compliance and monitoring.
According to reports, PPCB officials emphasised that developers must ensure strict implementation of environmental clearance conditions during both the construction and operational phases of projects. The board noted that compliance should extend beyond regulatory approvals and translate into on-ground implementation of pollution control and environmental management measures.
The regulator advised builders to prominently display environmental norms and compliance requirements at construction sites to improve awareness among project personnel and ensure continuous adherence to prescribed conditions. Developers were also encouraged to engage more directly with regulatory procedures and application processes rather than relying entirely on intermediaries, which officials believe could help reduce compliance-related lapses.
A significant focus of the discussions centred on water management and sewage infrastructure. PPCB directed developers to clean and maintain rainwater harvesting pits ahead of the monsoon season and ensure that recharge systems receive only surface runoff water. The board also stressed the need for efficient functioning of sewage treatment plants (STPs), reuse of treated wastewater for gardening and non-potable applications, and prevention of unauthorised discharge of domestic effluents.
The issue of sewage infrastructure emerged as a major concern during the interaction. Representatives of the builders’ association highlighted the growing need for additional sewage treatment facilities in Zirakpur to support increasing residential and commercial development. The matter assumes significance as the town continues to witness substantial housing construction and population growth.
Officials also urged developers to undertake plantation drives within residential complexes and adopt measures aimed at reducing solid waste generation through sustainable construction and operational practices. The board said environmental protection required collaborative efforts between regulators and stakeholders and that improved communication could help address compliance issues before they escalate into enforcement actions.
The latest initiative comes amid heightened scrutiny of environmental compliance in Punjab’s real estate sector. In recent months, the PPCB has taken a stricter approach towards violations by developers while simultaneously introducing measures to ensure that homebuyers are not adversely affected by regulatory actions taken against project proponents.
With Zirakpur emerging as one of the region’s fastest-growing residential markets, the board’s intervention highlights increasing regulatory attention on environmental management, wastewater treatment, groundwater protection and sustainable urban development practices across large-scale housing projects.
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