Pollution control board issues notice to Shivaji University

Kolhapur: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) regional office issued a show-cause notice to Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK) for violating various environmental norms. The proposed action has been taken under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.Inspections by officials found many shortcomings on the university premises. These include inadequate or non-functional projects, unscientific storage of wastewater, non-segregation of solid waste, and failure to obtain necessary permits for disposing hazardous waste in laboratories.According to observations by MPCB officials, the STP in the girls' hostel needed to be upgraded. It was also observed that there was no sewage treatment system in the boys' and other hostels. The sewage generated from the main building was also being treated without any scientific process. It was being stored and used for gardening instead.An MPCB official said, "The university has not provided accurate information on water consumption and wastewater generation. No details were provided for their solid waste management. The university has not submitted the required information to obtain environmental clearance. Considering all these errors, a show-cause notice has been issued asking the university to explain within seven days; legal action will be taken without giving any further instructions."Meanwhile, SUK's public relations officer Alok Jatratkar, has informed that no notice has been received so far. "No such notice from MPCB has been received yet by the vice-chancellor, registrar or anyone from the administration. Shivaji University is following all the environmental norms. We can't claim anything till the notice is received"