Govt frames rules to manage construction, demolition waste

While making it mandatory for builders, who would generate more than 20 tonnes or more debris per day during construction and demolition, to submit a waste management plan along with their applications for approval and urging states to reuse at least 10 to 20 per cent of such recycled waste, the Centre on Tuesday came up with country’s maiden rules for the management of waste generated from construction and demolition works, one of the major causes for air pollution.

Minister of state for environment Prakash Javadekar laid out on Tuesday a slew of measures to combat 22-23 per cent of particulate matter that construction and demolition activities contribute to the deteriorating air quality. The environment ministry, which will notify the new rules on Tuesday night, also directed the local authorities to commission construction and demolition waste-based plants in their jurisdictions.

“The cities with a population beyond a million must adhere to this condition within one-and-a-half year, cities with population between five and 10 lakh within two years and for areas with less than five lakh people three years have been granted to comply,” the government said, adding, “Littering by construction waste of public drains, water bodies, traffic, direct dumping in landfill sites will be dealt with stringently as well.” Mr Javadekar said that at present the construction and demolition waste generated annually is about a mammoth 530 million tonnes, which, if looked from another prism is not waste but a resource if we apply the logic of “recover, recycle and reuse”.

Mr Javadekar added that segregating construction and demolition waste and depositing it to the collection centres for processing will now be the responsibility of every waste generator.

“Permission for construction will be given only when the complete construction and demolition waste management plan is presented,” Mr Javadekar said, adding, “Large generators of waste will have to pay relevant charges for collection, transportation, processing and disposal as well.”

Besides, the MoS said that the State governments shall procure and utilize 10-20 per cent materials made from C&D waste in municipal and government contracts.” The ministry has also made it compulsory for builders carrying out projects anywhere in the country to ensure proper covering of the construction sites through curtains, barriers and dust suppression units. Also, the rules notified that it be the responsibility of the service providers for telecom, water supply, sewage, gas pipeline and others to remove all waste generated due to digging or any other construction activity carried out by them.