Chandigarh finalises draft policy on C&D waste

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 1

For complete disposal of debris, the UT Administration has finalised the draft policy for the management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in the city.

UT Adviser Dharam Pal said the draft policy had been finalised and it would be put in the public domain in a day or two to invite suggestions/objections, if any.

Dharam Pal had recently directed the MC Commissioner to simplify the draft policy so that it was easy to understand and also easy to implement.

In August, the Administration had prepared the draft policy to process 100 per cent waste being generated in the city and use it to make recycled items like gravel and slabs, which can be used in the construction of roads.

Under the policy, it will be made mandatory for all those constructing or reconstructing their houses to send the C&D waste to the processing plant in the Industrial Area.

As per the policy, those reconstructing their houses will be levied C&D waste processing charges at the rate of Rs176 per sq metre per storey and Rs22 per sq metre for new construction at the time of approval of the building plan from the Estate Office or the MC. As an incentive, if a waste generator brings the C&D waste to the processing plant, he/she can take back 50 per cent of the volume of the waste in recycled items. Before approving the building plan, the generators will be given an option to either send the waste material directly to the processing plant or ask the MC to pick it up after paying the applicable charges.

It will also be mandatory for all government departments, boards and corporations to send their C&D waste to the processing plant. Chandigarh generates nearly 90 tonnes of C&D waste every day. The waste generator will be challaned at the rate of Rs5,500 per vehicle for dumping unprocessed waste in the city.?