Gurgaon a step closer to getting its own C&D waste treatment plant

MCG officials the C&D treatment plant will reduce sand mining in Gurgaon

After several delays and deadlines, the city’s wait for a Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste plant seems about to end as the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) will carry out a foundation laying ceremony on Monday at Basai village, the plant site.

MCG officials said the move holds importance as owing to rapid urbanisation and infrastructure development, Gurgaon generates 700 tons of C&D waste daily. (Sanjeev Verma/HT File Photo)

The foundation ceremony will be overseen by MCG commissioner V Umashankar.

MCG officials said the move holds importance as owing to rapid urbanisation and infrastructure development, Gurgaon generates 700 tons of C&D waste daily.

Currently, the volume of this waste has increased by 10 per cent annually and in the absence of a processing system it is either being dumped roadside, the Aravalis or mixed with other waste at the defunct Bandhwari waste plant.

As a result, unplanned dumping of waste is choking drains, polluting water, and causing respiratory illness among residents.

In addition, the dust from construction activities and waste is also increasing particulate matter (PM 2.5 & 10) and raising air pollution to alarming levels.

“High air pollution levels and health-related problems owing to C&D waste is a major concern and the plant will help improve the situation through recycling of waste,” SS Rohilla, spokesperson, MCG, said.

Read I Gurgaon: Defunct Bandhwari waste treatment plant to resume operations within a week

Based on the modalities of the Burari plant at New Delhi, the C&D plant is being set up by the same concessionaires IL&FS on the basis a public-private partnership.

As per the agreement with MCG, IL&FS will be responsible for processing 300 tons of C&D waste daily and will also draw up the project’s design and ensure investments for building the plant.

C&D waste will be transported from designated dumping sites of MCG and recycled into ceramic, cement bricks, stones and sand.

MCG officials also said the plant will help reduce sand mining and conserve resources.

The plan for building a C&D plant has been in the pipeline since 2013. The project got delayed owing to the delay in finalising a site.

In 2014, the MCG had identified a plot at Begumpur Khatola, but the plan had to be put in the back burner after residents in the area voiced opposition citing environmental and health hazards. They even staged protests on NH-8.

It wasn’t until October 2016 that the MCG officials consented to an alternative location at Basai village.

MCG officials did not give the expected timeline for building the plant.