Sewer Water Floods Ajnara Homes Basement, Affecting 2,000 Residents; Builder Fined ₹50 Lakh

Greater Noida:Residents of Ajnara Homes in Greater Noida’s West area faced severe inconvenience after untreated sewer water flooded the society’s basement, which houses parking for over 400 flats and affects around 2,000 people. In response, the Greater Noida Authority (GrNo Authority) imposed a fine of ₹50 lakh on the builder and an additional ₹4 lakh for improper waste disposal.

The incident occurred on Sunday when the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), which had been non-functional for the past two years, failed completely after a pipe burst. Untreated sewage water quickly accumulated up to four feet in the basements of the M, L, and J towers, spreading foul odour and disrupting daily life for residents.

Authority Action

Following complaints from residents, the GrNo Authority conducted an on-site inspection. CEO N.G. Ravi Kumar confirmed that the STP had not been operational despite repeated notices and fines. Earlier, a fine of ₹5 lakh had been imposed, yet the system remained non-functional. The society continues to discharge 1.15 MLD of untreated sewage into municipal drains daily, violating environmental norms.

The Authority also highlighted misuse of potable water for gardening and cleaning activities, noting that the society was depleting groundwater unnecessarily. Senior Manager of the Sewer Department, Sunny Yadav, warned that further action would be taken if immediate corrective measures were not implemented.

Widespread STP Non-Compliance

This is not an isolated case. The GrNo Authority has investigated 220 builder societies across the city, finding multiple STPs non-operational and sewage being discharged untreated. Of these, 35 societies submitted falsified compliance reports. Action has already been taken against 25 societies to date.

The Authority has also written to the police to initiate proceedings against the agency responsible for society maintenance, emphasizing that the builder is ultimately responsible for sewage treatment and disposal.