Gurgaon: MCG launches malba-free swachh city campaign

Gurgaon generates over 600 tonnes of C&D waste every day, and the waste generated increases by 10% every year

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) launched the ‘malba mukt swachh Gurugram’ campaign at the Atul Kataria Chowk on Friday to eradicate issues pertaining to haphazard dumping of construction and demolition waste.

The MCG launches the malba mukht swachh Gurugram campaign at Atul Kataria Chowk on Friday. (HT Photo)

The development comes a week after the National Green Tribunal (NGT), in its order dated January 24, directed the MCG that it cannot start the construction of a C&D waste plant at Basai without procuring authorisation from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).

Citing rapid urbanisation and infrastructure development as the primary factors for the huge quantity of C&D waste generated in the city, the MCG flagged off dumper vehicles that will collect waste from different parts of the city and dump it at the MCG’s designated sites until the waste processing plant in Basai is completed.

Gurgaon generates over 600 tonnes of C&D waste every day, and the waste generated increases by 10% every year.

“Gurgaon has no scientific system for processing C&D waste. It is presently being dumped on roads, clogging drains and contaminating water bodies. Hence, the campaign has been initiated to decrease air pollution levels and health issues caused by haphazard dumping of C&D waste. The waste will be collected from all parts of the city and dumped at designated areas,” MCG commissioner V Umashankar said.

MCG officials claim that a report from IIT-Kanpur found that dust from construction activities is the main reason for the alarming rise in particulate matter (PM 2.5 & 10).

The MCG has selected a 3.5 acre area for building a C&D plant in Basai, the construction of which was stalled after the Delhi Bird Foundation members said that site is located near a wetland which is the habitat for over 200 species of birds.