Centre notifies the country's maiden construction and demolition waste management rules

NEW DELHI: Taking an important step towards handling the problem of air polluting dust from ongoing construction activities across India, the centre on Tuesday notified the country's first ever Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules to stipulate proper disposal and recycling of such waste.
The rules, which are to be implemented by local civic authorities, will not only reduce pressure on fresh resources but also help in tackling air pollution triggered by dust particles (particulate matter -mainly the health-damaging PM10).
Littering or obstruction to public drains, water bodies, traffic and direct dumping of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in landfill sites are completely prohibited under the rules.
"Local authorities are mandatorily to commission the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016", said Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar while releasing the rules.
He said, "Large generators of C&D waste will have to pay relevant charges for collection, transportation, processing and disposal as notified by concerned authorities".
The rules make it mandatory for large generators - 20 tons/day of C&D waste - to submit waste management plan in advance to address environmental issues for approvals of local authority.
Earlier, such waste was managed under the existing solid municipal waste management rules. But now, it will be dealt with exclusively under the C&D Waste Management Rules.
The environment ministry will soon come out with new rules for the management of solid municipal waste including household garbage as part of the centre's 'Clean India Mission' plan.