The vexatious issue of construction and demolition (C&D) waste being dumped at roadside may finally be resolved with a plant for recycling it coming up that serves the cause of environment as well.
To find a solution to the issue, the Union Ministry of Urban Development wanted all cities with over one million population to set up C&D waste recycling plants. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change issued the C&D Waste Management Rules, 2016 in March of that year.
In accordance with the guidelines, the plant is coming up on five acres of land leased to a firm under public private partnership by GVMC. The private firm Pro Enviro Engineers will lift the waste from the site on being informed by the building owner concerned and charges from him as per the rates in the agreement reached with GVMC.
Rationalisation of rates
However, in the Detailed Project Report the rates are fixed on the kilometre basis.
“But since it works out to be more expensive from far off areas like Anakapalle, a proposal has been made to rationalise the rates,” Chief City Planner R.J. Vidyullatha told The Hindu when contacted.
The dumping of debris will be fined. While the demolition done by informing the toll-free number will be charged as per the rates for lifting the debris, the unclaimed debris lifted will be tallied with the one reaching the designated locations and paid from the debris charges collected while according building plan approval, she says.
“The erection of machinery has been completed and civil works are expected to be completed by the month-end paving the way for beginning the functioning of the recycling plant,” T. Ashok Reddy, Project Head of Pro Enviro Engineers here, told The Hindu .
Imposing fines
The debris lifted will be segregated into sand, ash and construction metal of various sizes. It will be recycled to make tiles, bricks, pre-moulded walls and fencing poles. Beginning its work in October, the firm has already transported about 10,000 tonnes of unclaimed C &D waste to the plant site at Kapuluppada. The complaints received by GVMC on dumping of debris were routed to the agency. Very few direct calls came from Beach Road and Madhurawada area comprising Zone I for which the basic price was charged.
GVMC may impose fine ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 for dumping in violation of the rules.
“We are the first to set up C & D recycling plants in South India in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati and any problems that may arise once the regular operations begin will be sorted out in coordination with GVMC,” says Mr. Reddy.
