HYDERABAD: Though the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules 2016 came into force more than two years ago to exclusively deal with the collection, transportation, storage, processing and management of C&D waste,the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is not fully geared up to tackle with the C&D waste in about 15 of its 30 circles due to identification of site problems in three zones.
Even in the 15 circles where debris is collected and taken to the C&D processing plants, it is not being processed into paver blocks, kerbstones and aggregates for construction like sand and metal.
In the city, 500 to 600 tonnes of C&D waste is dumped on roadsides, and in nalas, water bodies and open spaces every day. Of the 625 sq, km GHMC area, C&D is cleared in less than 300 sq.km area and is transported to the Jeedimetla and Fathaullaguda decentralised C&D plants. The Jeedimetla plant covers 11 circles and 216.50 sq area and the Fathullaguda plant covers four circles and area of 85.50 sq.km.
In 2016 the municipal corporation had invited tenders for collection, transportation, storage, processing and disposal of C&D waste at four locations but could finalise only the two locations for setting up C&D waste recycling plants. Now, the corporation wants to set up three more plants instead of two. The work order will be given to the agency already short-listed for two sites and tenders will be called for the fifth location. GHMC officials told Express that search was on for suitable sites for the three plants with the help of district collectors and revenue authorities.
Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd as part of the corporate social responsibility lifted 14,000 tonnes of debris between November2017 and March 2018. Following an agreement with it on February 22, the concessionaire began operations on April 2 and has lifted 22,575 tonnes of debris till the first week of June. But with recycling plants not ready, the debris is stored at three depots in Jeedimetla, Fathullaguda and Jawaharnagar.
Efforts are being made to bring all the stake-holders like greenfield project developers like TREDAI, service providers (line departments) into the system to curb illegal dumping of C&D waste at public places, and integration of all private debris-carrying vehicles into the system by issuing an exclusive C&D permit by GHMC and branding of such vehicles in coordination with the concessionaire. GHMC is developing a strict mechanism for vigilance and enforcement to curb illegal dumping of the debris. It is also developing a citizen-friendly mechanism for online request registration, payment of user fee and is developing a suitable App for online tracking of debris-carrying vehicles.
Hazards of debris
Construction and demolition waste, if thrown into them, chokes open drains, nalas and lakes, and causes flooding. It occupies open spaces, pollutes the environment, creates garbage points, causes traffic congestion, mars the city’s look, causes the outbreak of diseases, causes loss of valuable raw material like stone aggregated, sand, brick, construction material which can be recycled.