Construction, demolition debris chokes Delhi

The massive construction and demolition waste (malba) generated in the capital is not only polluting Yamuna banks, from where 10,000 truckloads of waste need to be removed, but creating problems in the entire city.

The massive construction and demolition waste (malba) generated in the capital is not only polluting Yamuna banks, from where 10,000 truckloads of waste need to be removed, but creating problems in the entire city.

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Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has admitted in her budget speech that the problem of disposal of solid waste has been compounded by massive generation of construction and demolition debris.

Three of the four landfills for solid waste have already exhausted their lifespan. Since Delhi has only one plant to process construction debris at Jahangir Puri — the plant deals with 500 tonnes every day — a lot of it reaches landfills without any processing.

"Spiralling land prices have led to the demolition of old houses and buildings, followed by construction of multiple floors," Dikshit has said. She admitted that this debris is normally dumped either on the roadsides, at open government lands or on the banks of the Yamuna.

She said the government would address this environmental hazard by incentivising the recycling of such waste for manufacturing tiles and kerbstones for use in footpaths, road dividers, walking tracks in parks, etc.

She said tiles and kerbstones made from malba have been exempted from VAT.

The government’s economic survey has put the quantum of daily construction and demolition waste at 3,000 to 5,000 tonnes.

“The management of C&D waste is a major concern due to the increasing quantum of demolition rubble, continuing shortage of dumping sites, increase in transportation and disposal cost,” the survey reads.

A Supreme Court-appointed committee has identified 70 sites in North and 15 in East municipal areas for dumping of construction debris that will be finally taken to the processing and recycling plant.

The material is used is for tiles/pavement blocks and ready-mix concrete.A committee formed by the national green tribunal had ordered government agencies to remove such debris from riverbanks by May 31 and recover amounts spent on the removal from builders.