Construction, demolition debris contribute largely to Delhi’s high pollution levels

New Delhi: Pollution is a pressing problem for Delhi and despite several measures over the last few years, things haven’t improved much. The high pollution levels are often attributed to the humongous vehicular population the city has to deal with, along with dense industrialisation and stubble burning in neigbouring states, but one important contributing factor that is often neglected is construction and demolition waste, technically called C&D waste. With growing population needs and increased economic activities in Delhi-NCR region, C&D waste generation is always on the rise. The debris are often dumped illegally in undesignated spaces, which causes a perennial release of dust. About 25 per cent of PM10 in winters come from dust arising out of construction and demolition activities, a figure that rises to 42 % in summers.

While the C&D Waste Management Rules, notified on March 29, 2016, clearly make all stakeholders responsible for waste disposal, the law is hardly followed in letter and the debris either lie unattended or are dumped at wrong places. The law forbids dumping outside construction sites and makes debris recycling mandatory. Surprisingly, despite having a recycling capacity of close to 5,000 tonnes per day (TPD), Delhi’s five recycling facilities at Jahangirpuri, Rohini, Shastri Park, Bakkarwala and Mundka get to recycle less than 2,000 TPD. Where does the rest go? It is said that debris often mysteriously disappear on way to recycling plants as brokers sell them off to contractors, who in turn use them in different construction sites. In the process, both environment and health are jeopardised by a systematic sidelining of the law.