Maharashtra sees massive surge in C&D waste in 4 years, only 2% processed: CAG audit

Construction and demolition waste refers to the concrete, dust, building material, debris and rubble generated from construction, repair and demolition of any civil structure with a major quantum of C&D waste churned out during the remodelling of homes, redeveloping projects, and infrastructure works, amongst others. The Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016 (C&DWM) stipulates that it is the responsibility of the urban local bodies to collect, transport, process and dispose of the waste.

However, the CAG audit, which was presented in the Maharashtra Assembly Wednesday, showed that the state is struggling to tackle the surging heap of C&D debris, which has seen a stark spike over the past four years.

Collectively, Maharashtra generated 165.29 lakh metric tonnes of C&D waste in four years, of which only 3.18 lakh metric tonne was processed. According to the CAG audit, only some municipal bodies like Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Pune amongst others are home to C&D processing plants, owing to which nearly 98 per cent of the C&D waste in four years remained unprocessed, of which nearly 71 per cent was discarded for landfilling.

Experts say C&D waste is also detrimental to the environment with its direct link to the region’s worsening Air Quality Index (AQI). With most debris illegally abandoned on open grounds and dumping sites without covers and treatment, the dust from this waste remains suspended in the air, contributing to the deteriorating AQI.

Several health experts have linked exposure to construction dust with cerebrovascular disease, COPD, respiratory infections, Asthma, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, cancers like stomach, rectal and oesophageal cancer, and skin symptoms, amongst other diseases.

Mumbai, too, is no stranger to the rising problem with civic records reflecting that the city generates 8,500 metric tonnes of C&D waste daily, which is even higher than its total quantum of solid waste generated each day at 6,500 metric tonnes.

To treat the waste, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioned processing plants — one at Dahisar and another at Shilphata — late last year, which can recycle and treat around 600 metric tonne of C&D waste daily.

Even as the existing facilities cater to a mere 10 per cent of the total C&D waste generated daily, senior officials have said the facility has drawn feeble response from citizens with very few availing the services.