New Rules to Check Pollution Caused by Construction Waste

As per the rules, the local bodies will have to utilize 10-20 percent material from construction and demolition waste in municipal and government contracts. 

NEW DELHI: To check pollution caused by large scale construction happening cross the country, the government has for the first time come up with a set of rules whereby permission for construction will be given only when the complete construction and demolition waste management plan is presented to local authority.

The Construction & Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016 notified today will ensure that construction and demolition waste is properly collected, recycled and reused by fixing responsibility of all stakeholders, including builders and municipal bodies. At present, the construction and demolition waste generated in the country is about 530 million tonnes annually.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the basis of these Rules is to recover, recycle and reuse the waste generated through construction and demolition and it is not a waste, but a resource. 

“Permission for construction will be given only when the complete construction and demolition waste management plan is presented”, he said.  The Minister also pointed out that large generators of waste will have to pay relevant charges for collection, transportation, processing and disposal, as notified by the concerned authorities,” he said.

As per the rules, the local bodies will have to utilize 10-20 percent material from construction and demolition waste in municipal and government contracts. 

“Segregating construction and demolition waste and depositing it to the collection centres for processing will now be the responsibility of every waste generator,” said Javadekar.

Besides, cities with a population of more than one million will commission processing and disposal facility within 18 months from the date of final notification of these rules, while cities with a population of 0.5 to 1 million and those with a population of less than 0.5 million will have to provide these facilities within two years and three years respectively. 

The draft Construction & Waste Management Rules was published three months ago and the Ministry had received 111 suggestions.

As per the rules, every waste generator shall segregate construction and demolition waste and deposit at collection centre or handover it to the authorised processing facilities.

Large generators, who generate more than 20 tons or more in one day or 300 tons per project in a month, shall submit waste management plan and get appropriate approvals from the local authority before starting construction or demolition or remodeling work. 

“Local authority shall seek detailed plan or undertaking as applicable, from generator of construction and demolition waste and sanction the waste management plan; seek assistance from concerned authorities for safe disposal of construction and demolition waste contaminated with industrial hazardous or toxic material or nuclear waste if any,” said the rules.

The Bureau of Indian Standards has been asked to prepare code of practices and standards for use of recycled materials and products of construction and demolition waste in respect of construction activities.

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