Construction and demolition waste piles up in Faridabad

Even though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had, in 2018, directed the civic authorities to maintain a proper waste disposal system, the project for the processing of construction and demolition waste (C&D) in the city has yet to be streamlined.

Large heaps of waste can be seen on roadside and in open areas, said sources. Though a contract has been awarded to an agency, the work is yet to gain momentum. "Heaps of waste material can be seen dumped on the sides of roads and in green belts in the city. It is emerging as a cause of concern," said Paras Bhardwaj, a resident.

Describing it as a failure on the part of the civic administration, he said hundreds of tonnes of waste was disposed of in an unsafe manner each month, with no agency to keep a check or regulate it. "Dumping of the construction waste or rubble in the open has emerged as one of the major issues," said Narender Sirohi, a social activist. Alleging a blatant violation of the norms regarding the disposal of all types of waste, he said this was not only hazardous to the environment, but also a danger to commuters.

Less than 10 per cent of the construction and demolition material was reaching the designated spot near Riwazpur village here, where a small-sized plant had come up on around 5 acres allotted by the civic body three years ago, revealed the sources. However, it was claimed that the work, which started a few months ago, was only at the primary stage as it involved only grinding and crushing work and no by-products had been produced so far. The civic body is to procure 60 per cent of the processed material from the contractor, as per the agreement, it was said.

"The plant or machinery set up near the village has become a source of air and noise pollution as only grinding work is done here," said Nahar Singh Chauhan, a resident of the village.

The villagers had opposed the move last year.

The NGT had asked the civic authorities to act, but no major plant had come up, even though four units had been proposed by the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF), the sources stated. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), an agency of the Union Ministry of Environment, had also issued directions for the proper disposal of waste.

Birender Kardam, Chief Engineer, MCF, said while work on the disposal and recycling of C and D waste was on, efforts were on to make the project fully operational.