C&D waste plant yet to see light of day

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 16

With no progress on the construction and demolition (C&D) waste management plant, construction and demolition waste is seen dumped at green belts, vacant land and areas along the roads across the city.

As per the Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management Rules, 2016, the civic body is supposed to ensure the provision of proper management of construction and demolition wastes. The project to set up the C&D Waste Management Plant was proposed under the Smart City mission but is yet to be started.

In the absence of any such management plant, the debris and other construction and demolition waste is being dumped openly in the green belts and roadsides near Sidhwan Canal at Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Tajpur Road, Dhandari, vacant land along Buddha Nullah, Focal Point and various other locations in the city. Besides, heaps of waste can be seen in the streets of various residential areas. Even the waste generated during demolition drives of the civic body is often dumped at vacant plots or land, as per information.

Residents want the authorities concerned to pay immediate attention to find a solution to remove waste heaps, which present a bad picture.

Sanjay Goel, chairman, Indian Institute of Architects, Punjab Chapter, said: “A C&D waste management plant is highly essential for every city, including Ludhiana. Hundreds of buildings are started or demolished on a daily basis in the city. Thus, a lot of construction waste is generated and then dumped at various locations. The waste heaps dumped in narrow streets also create traffic problem. Thus, there is a dire need of a C&D waste management plant.”

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, who is one of the directors of Ludhiana Smart City Limited, said he would conduct the meeting with the officials concerned to know the status of the project. He said: “Construction and Demolition waste plant is very essential for the city. The plant will be set up at the earliest.”