India, April 28 -- With water pollution emerging as a growing concern across urban Maharashtra and release of untreated sewage into rivers and lakes being one of the primary reasons, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is set to complete a statewide, third-party audit of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in housing societies across five major cities. The audit report is expected by mid-May, MPCB chairman Siddhesh Kadam said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference in Pune, Kadam said that the exercise, launched nearly three months ago, is in its final phase. "The audit is nearing completion and we are expecting to receive the report by mid-May. Societies found non-compliant with environmental norms will have to face action," he s...