GHMC in overdrive to rid hyderabad city of construction & demolition waste

Jeedimetla: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is planning to set up three construction & demolition (C&D) waste plants in the city at Kothwalguda, Jawaharnagar, Fathullaguda in addition to the present Jeedimetla plant that was commissioned three months ago. This was announced during a media tour held at the Jeedimetla plant here on Friday.

Executive Engineer (C&D) Mohan Reddy said, "The C&D waste is usually discarded in lakes and nalas. In a bid to stop this practice, the government provided 17 acres from TSIIC, of which 2.5 acres are used for main plant.

The rest of the area is used for greenery." He further added, "The plant is developed at a cost of Rs 15 crore in PPP-BOT process. Mud, sand, gravel, bricks, concrete, metal, plastic, wood and other materials comprise C&D. Sand, metal and gravel is separated for processing and recycling." The bricks and tiles taken from the material after processing is used to construct walls and walkway for the plant.

Sand, chips and gravel after processing can be used in lower level for internal roads, he added. "Almost all the works of the plant is finished. The work started on January 22, 2018. We had taken permission from pollution control board before starting the works as the capacity of the plant is 750 tonnes. Nearly 7.40 Lakh metric tons C&D waste is transported and 2.17 lakh metric tonnes waste is sent to Jeedimetla plant. The quarry near the plant is levelled with the processed material," Mohan Reddy informed.

The steel available after processing can be used for land filling. There is no market for recycled goods. Collection points are arranged in the city to collect C&D waste. C&D wastes management is now compulsory for builders and contractors. Serious action will be taken on illegal transportation and dumping of C&D wastes. Awareness programmes are also conducted on this for builders associations.

An app will be designed for the collection of C&D wastes. 422 appeals were escalated in the last one and half years through 'MY GHMC app' and online services. Srinivas Reddy, EE, SWM, GHMC, and Ramky Enviro company biomedical waste business head A Sathya were present at the press meet.

Observers, hailing the GHMC move, however, opine that the government effectively notify and enforce stringent rules for to collect and manage construction and demolition waste. Builders owners and public should be discouraged from dumping any such waste on roadsides. Builders should be made to come out with waste management plans before any permission is given for their plans.