Civic body move to resume construction of STP at Leisure Valley draws criticism

The Municipal Corporation’s move to resume construction of a sewerage treatment plant (STP) at Leisure Valley, Sarabha Nagar, has reignited sharp criticism from residents, walkers and welfare associations.

Locals argue that the project, previously halted after widespread protests, threatens public health, violates planning norms and undermines the very purpose of the city’s green lungs.

Residents staying opposite the valley say the plant would emit foul smell, making life difficult in one of the city’s posh localities. Morning walkers, who flock to the valley for fresh air and fitness, fear the facility would degrade the environment and discourage community use of the space.

“The STP will defeat the very purpose of coming here for a walk and fresh air,” said Davinder Singh, a regular visitor from BRS Nagar.

Municipal officials, however, maintain that the plant was small, designed to treat 200 kilolitres of water daily and would not emit foul smell. They insist that the treated water would be used to irrigate Leisure Valley and nearby parks, aligning with Smart City goals.

Yet the opposition has intensified with Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Large Industrial Development Board Chairman, Pawan Dewan, formally urging Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to halt the project. In a letter to the CM, Dewan highlighted the STP’s proximity to Sacred Heart Convent School and densely populated residential zones, calling it “grossly inappropriate” and a violation of urban planning norms. He warned of health risks to schoolchildren, elderly residents and individuals with respiratory problems.

Dewan reminded that urban guidelines mandate STPs be located on city outskirts and not in residential or educational zones. “The project blatantly disregards those norms, setting a dangerous precedent for future civic planning,” he asserted.

He also criticised the resumption without public consultation, terming it a disregard for democratic engagement.

The controversy underscores a larger debate between civic bodies and citizens — whether infrastructure projects can be pursued at the cost of community health and environmental integrity. As protests mount, residents demand relocation of the STP and reassessment of the site selection while officials continue to defend its utility.