PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) on Wednesday said that two large housing societies, including Pacific Golf Estate, in the city have been fined Rs one lakh each for violating sewage disposal norms after complaints of untreated wastewater being discharged into the open.
The municipal health officer, Avinash Khanna said multiple complaints from residents had prompted inspections by the departments concerned. During field verification, Pacific Golf Estate and a nearby residential colony with around 150 to 200 houses were found releasing sewage into open areas and stormwater drains instead of designated sewer lines. The violations were confirmed and penalties were imposed under applicable civic and environmental rules.
The civic authorities said that the action reflects a wider problem in the city. Similar complaints have surfaced from several smaller residential pockets where wastewater is being diverted into rainwater drains, raising concerns over sanitation, public health and groundwater contamination. They further said that enforcement measures are being taken in such cases, too. Regular monitoring and surprise inspections will continue, particularly with the monsoon approaching, when clogged drains often lead to waterlogging.
Khanna said that garbage dumping in drains remains a major cause of drainage failures. “People throw household waste into drains. When drains get blocked, water spills onto the roads and creates problems for the public,” he said.
The administration has appealed to residents and housing societies to follow sewage management norms, avoid dumping waste in drains and cooperate with civic agencies to improve drainage and sanitation across Dehradun.
