A developer will now have to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the UPPCB by keeping a provision for an effluent treatment plant (ETP) in the campus, besides 33 per cent open area for a green belt.

UPPCB officials said though the Ministry of Environment and Forests had issued an amended “environment impact assessment notification” in 2006, it was yet to be properly implemented in the state. The amended notification included new construction projects like townships, settlement colonies, commercial colonies, hotel complexes, hospitals and office complexes which needed to seek environment clearance from the state pollution control board or the MoEF, depending on the size of the project.

The buildings and construction projects with a carpet area between 20,000 sq m and 1,50000 sq m will have to take an NOC from UPPCB, while larger projects will need the MoEF nod.

According to the estimate, the colonies/projects discharging sewage of 50,000 or more per day will require environment clearance.

A UPPCB official said the regional offices have been asked to list all such colonies/buildings. “The UPPCB will issue notices to the colonies, which fall in the category, for setting up ETPs. New projects will have to obtain an NOC,” said Swami Nath Ram, Chief Environmental Officer, UPPCB.